UNIVERSITY  OF 

LOS  ANGELES 


BtRTRAND  SMITH'S 

BSOK  ST 
"ACRFS  OF  BOOKS" 

633    MAIN   ST» 
CINCINNATI.  CHia 


JfflB^&fflBB 


ISLES  OF  THE  SEA; 


OR, 


YOUNG  AMERICA  HOMEWARD  BOUND. 


Storg  of  Erafcei  anti  gfofcenture. 


BY 

WILLIAM   T.   ADAMS 
(OLIVER  OPTIC), 

AUTHOR  OF  "OUTWARD  BOUND,"  "SHAMROCK  AND  THISTLE,"  "RED  CROSS," 

"DIKES  AND  DITCHES,"  "PALACE  AND  COTTAGE,"  "DOWN  THB 

RHINE,"  "  UP  THE  BALTIC,"  "  NORTHERN  LANDS," 

"CROSS  AND  CRESCENT,"  "  SUNNY  SHORES," 

"VINB  AND   OLIVE,"  ETC, 


BOSTON: 
LEE    AND    SHEPARD,   PUBLISHERS. 

NEW  YORK: 

CHARLES    T.    DILLINGHAM. 
1877. 


COPYRIGHT, 


BY  WILLIAM  T.  ADAMS. 


Electrotyped  and  printed  by 

Rand,  Avery,  and  Company, 

117  Franklin  Street, 

Boston. 


(To  fHg  JFrifirtF, 
P.  WOODBURY  DODGE,  ESQ., 

OF     A  M  H  E  R  S  T,     N.  H., 
BENEATH  WHOSE  HOSPITABLE  ROOF  IT  WAS  WRITTEN, 

8Tf)fs  Uolume 

IS   RESPECTFULLY   DEDICATED. 


LIBRARY 


YOUNG  AMERICA  ABROAD. 

BY  OLIVER  OPTIC. 


A  Library  of  Travel  and  Adventure  in  Foreign  Lands.  First 
and  Second  Series;  six  volumes  in  each  Series.  i6mo. 
Illustrated.  

First  Series, 
I.    OUTWARD   BOUND;   OR,  YOUNG  AMERICA  AFLOAT. 

II.    SHAMROCK  AND    THISTLE;    OR,  YOUNG  AMERICA 
IN  IRELAND  AND  SCOTLAND. 

III.  RED  CROSS ;  OR,  YOUNG  AMERICA  IN  ENGLAND  AND 

WALES; 

IV.  DIKES   AND    DITCHES;    OR,   YOUNG    AMERICA    IN 

HOLLAND  AND  BELGIUM. 

V.    PALACE  AND   COTTAGE ;  OR,  YOUNG  AMERICA  IN 
FRANCE  AND  SWITZERLAND. 

VI.    DOWN  THE  RHINE;    OR,  YOUNG  AMERICA  IN  GER- 
MANY. .  

Second  Series. 

I.    UP  THE  BALTIC;  OR,  YOUNG  AMERICA  IN  NORWAY, 
SWEDEN,  AND  DENMARK. 

II.    NORTHERN  LANDS;  OR,  YOUNG  AMERICA  IN  RUSSIA 
AND  PRUSSIA. 

III.  CROSS  AND    CRESCENT;    OR,  YOUNG    AMERICA  IN 

TURKEY  AND  GREECE. 

IV.  SUNNY  SHORES;  OR,  YOUNG  AMERICA  IN  ITALY  AND 

«  AUSTRIA. 

V.     VINE  AND    OLIVE ;  OR,  YOUNG  AMERICA  IN  SPAIN 
AND  PORTUGAL. 

VI.    ISLES   OF  THE  SEA;    OR,  YOUNG  AMERICA  HOME- 
WARD BOUND. 


PREFACE. 


"  ISLES  OF  THE  SEA"  is  the  sixth  and  last  volume  of  the  second 
series  of  "  Young  America  Abroad,"  and  contains  the  history  of 
the  academy  squadron  during  its  voyage,  "homeward  bound," 
across  the  Atlantic.  The  title  of  the  book,  "  Isles  of  the  Sea," 
indicates  the  character  of  the  foreign  travel  in  which  the  students 
of  the  institution  were  engaged ;  and  in  the  pursuit  of  knowledge 
they  visit  the  Madeira  Islands,  the  Canaries,  the  Azores,  the  Ber- 
mudas, and  one  vessel  of  the  fleet  extends  its  cruise  to  the  Cape 
Verd  Islands.  As  in  its  predecessors,  the  professor  of  geography 
and  history  has  something  to  say  about  each  of  the  islands  visited, 
and  the  surgeon  and  sanitary  officer  continues  to  enlighten  the 
young  gentlemen  who  seek  his  companionship  in  their  rambles  on 
shore.  The  field  of  geography  and  history  is  not  so  extensive  as 
in  the  preceding  volumes  of  the  series ;  and  for  this  reason  the 
story  occupies  a  larger  place  in  the  book. 

Of  the  story,  Mr.  Tom  Speers  is  the  central  figure,  or  at  least 
one  of  the  most  prominent  characters.  Possibly  he  may  be  deemed 
a  rather  eccentric  character  for  one  under  age ;  but,  as  the  author 
has  so  often  expressed  himself  before,  it  does  not  so  much  matter 
what  else  a  young  man  may  be,  if  he  only  has  high  aims,  and  a 
resolute  purpose  to  carry  out  his  ideal  of  what  is  noble,  good,  and 
true.  Tom  is  a  high-toned  young  man,  as  are  all  the  other  charac- 
ters with  whom  the  young  reader  is  at  all  likely  to  sympathize, 
and  in  whose  fortunes  he  is  most  certain  tc^be  interested. 

As  to  the  innate  probability  of  a  few  of  the  leading  incidents, 
they  are  suggested  by  actual  occurrences  in  maritime  history,  which 

5 


5  PREFACE. 

may  be  recalled  by  those  who  have  kept  themselves  familiar  with 
the  subject.  In  regard  to  the  long  search  of  the  Ville  d'Angers 
for  the  academy  squadron,  which  extended  nearly  across  the  Atlan- 
tic, the  recorded  experience  of  those  who  have  traversed  the  ocean 
on  similar  ventures  shows  how  difficult  it  is,  away  from  the  tele- 
graph and  the  ship  news,  for  one  vessel  to  find  another. 

The  first  volume  of  the  first  series  of  "  Young  America  Abroad" 
was  published  in  1866,  by  the  publishers  whose  imprint  is  on  the 
present  and  last  of  the  series.  It  is  therefore  eleven  years  that 
the  author  has  been  engaged  in  this  pleasing  work.  These  books 
have  been  received  with  a  degree  of  favor  which  the  writer  is 
proud  and  happy  to  acknowledge,  and  for  which  he  returns  his 
sincere  thanks.  He  is  especially  grateful  that  his  life  has  been . 
spared  to  complete  the  work  begun ;  and  every  year  has  increased 
his  interest  in  the  host  of  young  friends  to  whom  these  books 
have  introduced  him  in  all  parts  of  the  country.  He  regrets,  that, 
in  this  particular  field  of  travel  and  adventure,  his  task  has  reached 
its  conclusion.  He  has  crossed  the  Atlantic  four  times,  and  trav- 
«lled  in  every  country  of  Europe,  in  preparing  himself  for  the 
work ;  and  the  pleasant  memories  of  the  "  lonely  ocean "  and  the 
far-distant  lands  he  has  visited  will  always  be  retained  and  cher- 
ished, in  their  association  with  the  multitude  of  young  people  in 
whose  delightful  service  he  voyaged  and  travelled. 

TOWBRHOUSB,  BOSTON,  Nov.  3,  1877. 


CONTENTS. 


PACK 

I.    THE  TELEGRAPHIC  DESPATCH it 

II.    THE  LETTER  FROM  LONDON 25 

III.  AN  APPROACHING  SQUALL 39 

IV.  A  VESSEL  IN  DISTRESS 53 

V.    BOARDING  THE  WRECK 67 

VI.    A  VOLUNTEER  SHIP'S  COMPANY 81 

VII.    THE  INVALID  YOUNG  LADY 93 

VIIT.    THE  VILLE  D'ANGERS 109 

IX.    THE  NEW  SHIP'S  COMPANY 123 

X.  SOMETHING  ABOUT  THE  MADEIRA  ISLANDS  .    .    .  137 

XI.  BUDDING  VINES  AND  ORANGE  GROVES    .    .    .    .151 

XII.    CONCERNING  THE  MISSING  STEAMER 165 

XIII.  A  MUTINY  IN  THE  FIRE-ROOM 180 

XIV.  THE  WRECK  OF  THE  CASTLE  WILLIAM  ....  194 
XV.    A  CHANGE  OF  DESTINATION 200 

XVI.  THE  WINE-ROOM  OF  THE  VILLE  D'ANGERS  .    .    .222 

XVII.    STRIKING  WHILE  THE  IRON  is  HOT 236 


8  CONTENTS. 

PAGB 

XVIII.    A  TRIP  TO  THE  CANARY  ISLANDS 250 

XIX.  WALKS  AND  TALKS  ABOUT  THE  CANARY  ISLANDS,  263 

XX.  "A  YANKEE  SHIP  AND  A  YANKEE  CREW"  .    .    .  276 

XXI.    THE  SPRIGS  OF  NOBILITY 292 

XXII.  WHAT  THE  STUDENTS  SAW  IN  THE  AZORES     .    .  306 

XXIII.  CARRYING  OUT  THE  PROGRAMME 319 

XXIV.  A  HASTY  RUN  TO  THE  CAPE  VERBS 333 

XXV.    THE  LAST  OF  THE  ISLES  OF  THE  SEA 348 

XXVI.    YOUNG  AMERICA  HOMEWARD  BOUND 363 


ISLES  OF  THE  SEA. 


ISLES  OF  THE  SEA; 

OR, 

YOUNG  AMERICA  HOMEWARD  BOUND. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE   TELEGRAPHIC   DESPATCH. 

"  \  LL  hands,  pipe  to  muster ! "  shouted  the  boat- 
_/  V  swain  of  the  Tritonia. 

At  the  same  moment  the  shrill  whistle  and  the  sharp 
cry  sounded  through  the  American  Prince  and  the 
Josephine.  The  squadron  was  at  anchor  in  Gibraltar 
Bay  ;  and  since  seven  bells  in  the  first  watch,  the  signal, 
"  Assign  rank,"  had  been  displayed  on  the  American 
Prince,  the  flag-ship  of  the  fleet. 

It  was  the  first  day  of  April.  The  merit  marks  of 
the  students  had  been  added  since  the  last  recitations, 
and  the  offices  were  to  be  given  out  at  eight  bells. 
The  squadron  had  visited  all  the  ports  of  the  Spanish 
Peninsula,  and  several  trips  to  the  interior  had  been 
made.  The  fleet  was  to  sail  to  Seville  to  witness  the 
scenes  of  Holy  Week ;  and  this  excursion  was  to  finish 
the  cruise,  not  only  in  the  waters  of  Spain  and  Portu- 
gal, but  in  those  of  Europe.  The  vessels  would  then 


12  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA;    OR, 

be  homeward  bound,  but  by  the  way  of  the  "  Isles  of 
the  Sea." 

There  was  no  little  excitement  in  all  the  vessels  of 
the  squadron.  Though  the  students  could  keep  their 
own  reckoning  tolerably  well,  so  far  as  the  literary 
pursuits  were  concerned,  they  were  wholly  in  the  dark 
in  relation  to  the  marks  for  seamanship,  navigation, 
and  conduct.  Some  had  strong  hopes  and  expecta- 
tions, based  upon  their  own  earnest  efforts ;  and  these 
were  seldom  greatly  disappointed,  though  their  rank 
was  sometimes  not  so  high  as  they  anticipated.  But, 
as  a  rule,  the  whole  matter  was  a  great  mystery,  which 
it  was  not  possible  to  find  out. 

Sometimes  there  would  be  very  little  change  in  the 
rank  of  the  officers  for  several  months ;  and  then 
came  a  general  turn-over  of  every  thing.  The  rise 
from  the  steerage  to  the  cabin  was  almost  uniformly 
slow  and  regular,  though  sometimes  a  student  jumped 
over  the  heads  of  the  half-dozen  who  had  stood  next 
above  him.  This  sudden  elevation  of  an  officer  or 
seaman  had  a  tendency  to  produce  bad  feeling  among 
his  rivals  in  the  race  for  honors,  for  the  boys  continued 
to  be  human  in  spite  of  the  discipline  of  the  service. 

Possibly  the  interest  on  the  present  occasion  was 
intensified  by  the  fact  that  the  squadron  was  so  soon 
to  sail  for  home ;  and  doubtless  many  of  the  students 
were  thinking  of  the  uniform  in  which  they  should  be 
presented  to  their  friends  on  their  return  to  the 
American  shores.  On  board  of  the  Tritonia  it  was 
known  among  the  closer  observers  of  events,  that 
several  of  the  students  had  been  putting  forth  ex- 
traordinary exertions;  and  this  circumstance  fully 


YOUNG   AMERICA   HOMEWARD   BOUND.  13 

accounted  for  the  unusual  excitement  of  the  day. 
Among  them  was  Bark  Lingall,  who  had  attempted 
to  run  away,  but  had  voluntarily  returned.  He  ap- 
peared to  be  thoroughly  reformed,  and,  from  one  of 
the  most  indifferent  and  vicious  boys  in  the  vessel, 
had  become  a  model  of  propriety  in  all  things,  as 
well  as  a  very  diligent  and  faithful  scholar. 

There  was  a  certain  class  of  students  in  the  steer- 
age of  the  Tritonia,  as  there  always  is  in  any  large 
company  of  boys,  who  affected  to  despise  one  who  had 
turned  away  from  his  evil  habits  and  associations,  and 
reformed  his  life  and  character.  Lingall  had  his  trials 
with  this  class  of  students ;  but  he  was  resolute  in  his 
purpose  to  continue  in  the  good  way.  Under  the  in- 
fluence of  Raymond,  who  had  inspired  him  with  the 
desire  to  do  his  whole  duty,  he  kept  his  temper  under 
his  persecutions ;  and  in  no  instance  was  he  provoked 
to  subject  himself  to  discipline  by  the  jeers  and  taunts 
of  the  disaffected. 

Another  student  in  the  Tritonia,  who  had  not  dis- 
tinguished himself  by  any  misconduct,  though  he  had 
been  an  easy-going  fellow,  suddenly  began  to  exert 
himself  without  any  apparent  stimulus  for  such  action. 
He  was  a  high-minded  boy,  but  rather  peculiar  in  his 
ways  of  thinking  and  doing.  His  name  was  Thomas 
Speers.  He  was  twenty  years  old,  though  he  did  not 
show  his  years,  and  one  might  easily  have  mistaken 
him  for  sixteen. 

For  the  reason  that  they  were  doing  their  best  in 
seamanship  and  the  studies,  Bark  Lingall  and  Tom 
Speers  excited  a  great  deal  of  remark,  not  to  say  feel- 
ing, among  the  students.  Bark  had  one  of  the  highest 


14  ISLES    OF   THE   SEA;    OR, 

numbers  in  the  vessel,  which  indicated  that  his  rank 
was  among  the  lowest.  He  had  never  done  any  work 
he  could  avoid  doing  since  the  first  two  or  three 
months  of  his  service  in  the  vessel.  He  had  been 
a  conspirator  against  the  discipline  and  even  the 
safety  of  the  schooner,  and  was  considered  a  bad  boy 
by  the  vice-principal  in  charge  and  the  professors. 
•  Tom  Speers  had  no  particular  record.  He  was  con- 
sidered a  good  fellow  by  the  students  in  general ;  and, 
though  he  was  noted  for  his  independence,  he  had 
never  wilfully  broken  the  rules  of  the  vessel.  He  was 
a  first-class  seaman ;  and  his  ability  as  a  student  was 
discovered  to  be  of  the  highest  order  as  soon  as  he 
chose  to  exert  himself. 

While  the  boatswain  of  the  Tritonia  was  still  piping 
his  call  to  muster  through  the  vessel,  a  shore  boat 
approached  the  gangway.  A  man  in  the  stern  hailed 
the  vessel ;  and  Marline,  the  adult  boatswain,  went 
down  on  the  accommodation  steps  to  see  what  he 
wanted,  for  visitors  were  not  admitted  at  this  time. 

"  Is  there  a  man  by  the  name  of  Thomas  Speers  on 
board  of  this  craft  ? "  asked  the  man  in  the  boat. 

*"We  have  a  young  man  of  that  name  on  board," 
replied  Marline. 

"  Can  I  see  him  for  a  moment  ? " 

"  For  a  moment  you  can  ;  but  he  will  be  wanted  very 
soon." 

The  boatswain  returned  to  the  deck,  and,  calling 
Speers,  sent  him  to  the  gangway.  As  the  student  had 
no-  friends  in  Gibraltar,  he  wondered  who  could  wish 
to  see  him.  He  hastened  to  the  steps,  and  went  down 
to  the  platform  at  the  foot  of  them.  Marline  remained 


YOUNG    AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  15 

at  the  rail,  to  see  that  nothing  improper  passed  be- 
tween Speers  and  the  man  ;  but  he  was  called  away 
before  the  student  had  communicated  with  the  boat. 

"  Telegraph  despatch  from  San  Roque,"  said  the  mes- 
senger, handing  the  document  to  Speers. 

"  It  can't  be  for  me,"  protested  the  student,  surprised 
that  such  a  message  should  come  to  him.  "  I  don't 
know  any  one  in  San  Roque." 

"  It  is  directed  to  Thomas  Speers,  and  there  is  the 
name  of  this  vessel  on  it,"  persisted  the  messenger, 
pointing  to  the  address.  "  But  it  is  not  from  San 
Roque  the  message  comes :  that  is  the  nearest  tele- 
graph station." 

"  Where  did  it  come  from  ? "  asked  Speers,  turning 
the  message  over  and  over  in  his  hand. 

"  I  don't  know  :  you  can  tell  by  opening  it." 

"  I  don't  want  to  open  it,  if  it  is  not  for  me." 

"  If  your  name  is  Thomas  Speers,  it  is  for  you.  I 
have  done  my  errand,  and  I  have  nothing  more  to  say 
about  it,"  added  the  man,  as  he  shoved  his  boat  off 
from  the  platform. 

"All  hands  on  deck !  "  shouted  an  officer  at  the  gang- 
way. 

Speers  put  the  message  into  his  pocket.  He  seemed 
to  have  no  curiosity  in  regard  to  its  contents.  He  was 
more  interested  in  the  distribution  of  the  offices  on 
board  of  the  Tritonia  ;  but  he  did  not  believe  the  mes- 
sage was  for  him.  He  hastened  back  to  the  deck,  and 
took  his  station  in  the  waist. 

He  hoped  his  place  would  be  on  the  quarter-deck 
for  the  new  term.  He  had  made  a  desperate  struggle 
with  all  his  studies,  and  he  was  not  conscious  that  he 


l6  ISLES   OF  THE   SEA;    OR, 

had  failed  in  any  thing.  Mr.  Pelham,  the  vice-principal, 
took  his  position  at  the  heel  of  the  main-mast,  with  the 
list  of  officers  and  seamen  in  his  hand.  Most  of  the 
students  looked  very  anxious,  though  a  few  of  the  "ma- 
rines "  affected  to  make  fun  of  the  occasion,  and  pre- 
tended that  they  did  not  care  what  positions  fell  to 
their  lot. 

The  vice-principal  made  the  usual  introductory 
speech,  pointing  the  moral  the  occasion  suggested. 
The  record  for  the  last  month  indicated  some  very 
important  changes ;  and  he  hoped  they  would  cause  no 
ill  feeling  either  in  the  cabin  or  the  steerage.  The 
merit  marks  strictly  represented  the  conduct  and  work 
of  the  students  ;  and  the  result  of  the  addition  of  the 
figures  had  caused  as  much  surprise  among  the  pro- 
fessors as  it  would  among  the  young  gentlemen. 

Mr.  Pelham  then  announced  the  name  of  Wain- 
wright  as  captain.  This  officer  had  held  the  position 
for  many  months ;  and,  as  he  was  very  popular  on 
board,  the  announcement  was  received  .with  hearty  ap- 
plause. Greenwood  was  first  lieutenant  again ;  and  his 
name  was  well  received  by  the  ship's  company.  Scott, 
who  had  been  fourth  lieutenant  during  the  preceding 
month,  came  in  as  second  ;  and,  as  the  joker  had  always 
been  a  favorite,  his  promotion  produced  a  very  decided 
sensation. 

"  I  congratulate  you,  Mr.  Scott,"  said  the  vice-prin- 
cipal, with  a  smile. 

"  Thank  you,  sir.  For  the  good  of  the  Tritonia,  I 
am  glad  this  thing  has  happened,"  replied  the  joker. 

"  Modesty  is  a  cardinal  virtue,"  added  Mr.  Pelham. 

"  I  know  it,  sir ;  and  that  is  the  reason  I  am  so  heav- 


YOUNG    AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.       .  17 

ily  loaded  with  it,"  returned  Scott,  making  a  face  which 
caused  a  tremendous  laugh  on  the  quarter-deck. 

If  there  was  anybody  that  did  not  laugh,  it  was  Alex- 
ander, who  had  formerly  been  first  lieutenant ;  and  his 
name  was  not  yet  called.  But  it  came  in  next  as  third 
lieutenant ;  while  O'Hara,  the  "  Oyrish  Oytalian,"  was 
again  the  fourth  lieutenant. 

"  No  great  change  in  that,"  said  Richards,  the  first 
master,  who  had  been  struggling  for  a  lieutenant's  place 
for  months. 

"  No ;  but  that  shows  the  changes  are  yet  to  be  men- 
tioned," replied  Blair,  the  fourth  master,  to  whom  the 
remark  had  been  addressed.  "It  looks  as  though 
there  was  a  chance  for  some  of  us  to  take  a  berth  in 
the  steerage.  Perhaps  you  are  the  one  to  go  down, 
Richards." 

"  What  makes  you  think  so,  Blair  ? "  asked  the  first 
speaker  anxiously. 

"  I  don't  think  so :  I  have  no  opinion  at  all  about  it. 
If  there  are  to  be  great  changes,  some  of  us  will  have 
to  go  down,"  added  Blair. 

So  it  proved  ;  but  not  just  as  the  fourth  master  had 
indicated.  The  vice-principal  paused  a  long  time  be- 
fore he  read  the  next  name ;  and  the  hearts  of  many 
beat  violently  as  the  moment  came  that  might  dash 
down  all  their  hopes  for  the  present. 

"  First  master,"  said  the  vice-principal  at  last, 
"  Thomas  Speers." 

The  announcement  was  received  in  silence  and  in 
blank  amazement.  The  students  who  had  observed 
that  Speers  was  making  an  effort  thought  it  possible 
he  might  be  coxswain  of  the  captain's  gig,  captain  of 


jg         .  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

the  after-guard,  or  something  of  that  sort;  but  they 
had  not  the  slightest  expectation  that  he  would  get  into 
the  cabin,  to  say  nothing  of  his  jumping  over  the  heads 
of  four  masters  who  had  been  in  the  cabin  for  months. 
The  experience  of  the  past  demonstrated  that  a  fellow 
who  once  got  into  the  cabin  very  seldom  allowed  him- 
self .to  be  shoved  out  of  it.  If  he  had  the  ability  to  get 
there,  he  had  the  ability  to  stay  there.  Besides,  the 
constant  presence  of  the  professors  had  a  tendency  to 
stimulate  him  to  do  his  best. 

"  Speers,  I  congratulate  you  on  the  great  promotion 
you  have  won,"  said  Mr.  Pelham,  breaking  in  upon  the 
silence  into  which  the  ship's  company  had  been  sur- 
prised by  the  mention  of  the  name  of  Speers  in  con- 
nection with  so  high  a  position. 

"  I  thank  you,  sir,"  replied  Tom  Speers,  bowing  and 
blushing. 

Then  came  the  most  tumultuous  applause  from  the 
seamen  in  the  waist.  One  of  their  own  number  had 
gone  up ;  and,  though  they  had  no  particular  sympathy 
with  Speers,  his  elevation  indicated  that  one  of  the 
present  officers  would  be  reduced  to  the  steerage. 
There  were  enough  among  them  to  rejoice  at  the  fall 
of  a  superior ;  for  it  was  quite  impossible  to  repress 
entirely  the  spirit  of  envy  and  jealousy  excited  by  the 
elevation  of  the  few  above  the  many. 

This  subject  had  early  attracted  the  attention  of  Mr. 
Lowington,  the  principal  of  the  academy  squadron  ;  and 
he  had  done  all  he  could  to  moderate  and  expel  the  feel- 
ing among  the  students.  But  they  were  all  human  be- 
ings, subject  to  the  infirmities  of  the  flesh ;  and  they  could 
not  be  wholly  different  from  the  more  mature  actors  on 


YOUNG    AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  19 

the  stage  of  life.  They  were  fully  instructed  and  warned 
in  regard  to  the  effect  of  cherishing  this  vicious  spirit ; 
but  that  was  all  that  could  be  done.  The  boys  were  to 
meet  and  encounter  the  same  circumstances  in  the 
great  world  as  on  board  of  the  vessels  of  the  academy 
fleet;  and  they  received  all  the  preparation  for  the 
ordeal  it  was  possible  to  give  them. 

"  That  proves  that  one  of  us  will  have  to  go  down," 
said  Blair,  while  the  seamen  in  the  waist  were  applaud- 
ing the  promotion  of  Speers. 

"  I  don't  believe  in  this  thing,"  added  Richards,  with 
no  little  excitement  in  his  tones  and  manner.  "  Who 
ever  heard  of  such  a  thing  as  a  fellow  in  the  steerage 
leaping  over  the  heads  of  all  the  masters  ?  " 

"  It  is  done ;  and  it's  no  use  to  talk  about  it,"  con- 
tinued Blair.  "  Speers's  marks  give  him  that  place,  or 
he  would  not  have  it." 

"  There  is  something  wrong  about  it." 

"  What  can  be  wrong  ?  " 

"  It  looks  as  though  the  books  of  the  professors  had 
been  doctored.  Didn't  the  vice-principal  say  it  was  as 
great  a  surprise  to  the  faculty  as  to  fellows  ?  " 

"  That  only  shows  that  they  have  had  their  eyes 
open  ;  and,  if  there  was  any  thing  wrong  about  the 
books,  they  would  have  discovered  it." 

"It  would  have  been  easy  enough  for  Speers  to  alter 
half  a  dozen  figures  on  the  book,"  Richards  insist- 
ed. 

"  I  don't  believe  Speers  is  a  fellow  of  that  sort," 
Blair  objected.  "  If  he  had  done  such  a  thing,  the 
professors  could  see  that  the  figures  had  been 
changed." 


20  ISLES   OF  THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

"  I  don't  understand  it ;  and  I  can't  explain  it  in  any 
other  way,"  added  Richards,  shaking  his  head. 

"Second  master,"  the  vice-principal  proceeded, 
"Henry  Raymond.  He  is  absent,  but  the  principal 
instructs  me  to  hold  his  position  the  same  as  last 
month." 

Raymond's  absence  was  explained,  as  it  was  in  all 
the  vessels  of  the  fleet ;  and  it  was  satisfactory  to  all 
except  Ben  Pardee  and  Lon  Gibbs,  of  the  "  marines," 
who  had  been  engaged  in  an  attempt  to  run  away. 
The  vice-principal  glanced  at  his  list  again,  and  the 
students  waited  with  intense  interest  for  the  name  of  * 
the  next  officer. 

"  Third  master,"  said  he ;  and  there  was  another 
long  pause.  Blair  and  Richards  were  holding  their 
breath  in  their  anxiety  to  hear  the  next  name,  for  there 
were  only  two  chances  more  for  the  cabin. 

"  Third  master,"  repeated  the  vice-principal,  "  Bar- 
clay Lingall." 

If  the  name  of  Tom  Speers  had  produced  a  sensa- 
tion among  the  officers  and  crew,  that  of  Bark  Lingall 
made  a  greater  one.  Three  months  before,  he  had  run 
away  from  the  vessel  with  a  fellow  so  bad  that  the  latter 
was  expelled ;  and  on  his  return,  though  he  came  back 
of  his  own  accord,  having  been  reformed  .by  the  influ- 
ence of  Raymond  while  both  were  absent,  his  lost 
lessons  could  not  be  made  up ;  and  he  was  given  the 
highest  number  in  the  vessel,  which  placed  him  below 
all  the  others.  From  that  low  position  he  had  sud- 
denly risen  to  be  the  third  master  of  the  Tritonia.  The 
case  seemed  to  be  so  singular,  and  so  contrary  to  the 
past  experience  of  the  students,  that  the  vice-principal 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  21 

deemed  it  necessary  to  explain  it.  He  took  the  occa- 
sion to  illustrate  that  almost  any  student  who  was 
thoroughly  in  earnest  in  his  studies  could  obtain  any 
position  his  ambition  coveted.  When  he  saw  that 
Lingall  was  doing  so  well,  he  anticipated  a  high  posi- 
tion for  him,  though  not  quite  so  high  as  he  had  at- 
tained. 

"  I  am  disgusted,"  said  Richards,  when  one  more 
chance  had  slipped  away  from  him.  "  I  feel  sure  that 
the  books  have  been  doctored.  Two  fellows  from  the 
steerage  have  got  into  the  cabin." 

"  And  we  are  about  at  the  end  of  the  rope.  Either 
you  or  I  must  go  down  now,  and  perhaps  both  of  us," 
replied  Blair,  shrugging  his  shoulders. 

"  That's  so ;  but  I  don't  believe  we  are  to  be  sent 
down  by  any  sort  of  fair  play,"  growled  Richards. 

"  There  is  no  help  for  it.  I  don't  think  I  did  as  well 
last  month  as  I  should  have  done  if  I  had  supposed 
there  was  any  danger  of  being  shoved  out  of  the 
cabin,"  continued  Blair  frankly. 

"  I  have  no  doubt  I  could  have  done  better ;  but  I 
believe  now  that  I  have  done  well  enough  to  keep  my 
place." 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  about  it  ?  get  up  a  mu- 
tiny ? " 

"  I  feel  like  doing  something  about  it." 

"Wait  a  minute  before  you  do  it,"  laughed  Blair. 
"  You  may  be  all  right  yet." 

"  I  can't  be  any  thing  better  than  fourth  master,  and 
below  Speers  and  Lingall." 

"  Fourth  master,"  continued  the  vice-principal,  when 
the  excitement  of  the  last  announcement  had  in  a 


23  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;  OR, 

measure  subsided;  and  then  he  paused  again,  not  to 
prolong  the  agony  of  the  students,  but  to  make  sure 
that  no  mistake  was  made. 

"We  shall  know  all  about  it  in  another  minute,"  said 
Blair ;  "  and  you  will  learn  whether  or  not  you  need  go 
on  with  your  mutiny." 

"  I  haven't  said  any  thing  about  a  mutiny :  you  said 
that,  Blair." 

"  Mutinies  don't  pay  in  this  squadron  :  besides,  we 
shall  be  homeward  bound  in  a  few  days,"  laughed  Blair. 

"Fourth  master,  Richards,"  read  the  vice-principal 
from  his  list. 

"  There  you  are,  Richards  !  "  exclaimed  Blair. 

"  And  you  are  counted  out,"  added  the  new  fourth 
master. 

"  I  am ;  but  I  shall  not  cry  about  it.  You  are  an 
officer,  and' I  am  a  seaman  now;  and,  if  I  conclude  to 
get  up  a  mutiny  at  your  suggestion,  I  shall  not  say  any 
thing  to  you  about  it." 

Blair  shrugged  his  shoulders,  and,  making  a  merit  of 
necessity,  he  stepped  down  from  the  quarter-deck  into 
the  waist.  A  few  minutes  later  his  name  was  read  as 
one  of  the  highest  of  the  petty  officers.  There  was 
not  much  consolation  in  this  position,  as  he  was  turned 
out  of  the  cabin. 

The  rest  of  the  numbers  were  given  out  in  the  order 
of  merit.  As  usual,  there  was  considerable  grumbling, 
while  not  a  few  were  elated  over  the  rank  they  had 
won.  Before  noon  the  officers  put  on  their  uniform, 
though  two  of  them  were  absent. 

Tom  Speers  in  his  frock-coat  and  cap  was  a  good- 
looking  officer.  He  was  well  received  by  the  other 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  23 

occupants  of  the  cabin,  —  possibly  with  the  exception  of 
Richards,  who  could  not  wholly  forgive  him  for  getting 
above  him.  Tom  had  quite  forgotten  the  telegraphic 
despatch  he  had  received,  till  he  put  on  his  uniform, 
and  changed  the  contents  of  his  pockets  into  those  of 
the  new  dress. 

He  was  not  much  interested  in  the  document :  his 
big  promotion  monopolized  all  his  thoughts.  He  had 
no  time  to  look  at  it ;  for,  as  soon  "as  the  rank  was  as- 
signed in  the  squadron,  the  signal  for  sailing  appeared 
on  the  American  Prince.  When  the  fleet  was  under 
way,  the  second  part  of  the  port  watch  to  which  Tom 
Speers  belonged  was  off  duty,  the  first  part  being  in 
charge  of  the  vessel. 

O'Hara,  the  fourth  lieutenant,  was  his  associate 
watch  officer.  The  Irish  Italian  had  treated  him  very 
handsomely  from  the  moment  the  rank  of  the  j|ew- 
comer  into  the  cabin  was  announced.  They  were  to 
spend  days  and  nights  together  in  charge  of  the  deck, 
and  it  was  pleasant  to  be  on  good  terms  with  each 
other.  They  had  a  long  talk  together  as  soon  as  the 
Triton ia  was  clear  of  the  Bay  of  Gibraltar. 

While  they  were  thus  engaged,  Speers  took  from  his 
pocket  the  telegraph  despatch,  which  got  into  his  hand 
by  accident  rather 'than  by  design.  He  had  been  too 
much  interested  in  the  conversation  with  O'Hara  to 
think  of  it  before.  He  took  it  from  his  pocket  that  he 
might  not  forget  it  again,  and  not  with  the  intention  of 
opening  it  in  the  presence  of  his  companion  ;  but  it 
attracted  the  attention  of  the  fourth  lieutenant. 

"What  have  you- there,  Speers?"  asked  O'Hara. 
"  A  letter  from  home  ?  We  have  had  no  mail  in  the 
ship  for  a  fortnight." 


24  ISLES    OF   THE   SEA  j    OR, 

"  No :  it  is  not  a  letter,"  replied  Tom  Speers  "very 
indifferently. 

"Not  a  letter?  isn't  it  in  an  envelope?"  demanded 
O'Hara,  more  interested  in  the  matter  than  the  owner 
of  the  document. 

"  It  is  a  telegraph  despatch,  which  was  brought  to  me 
just  as  all  hands  were  piped  to  muster  this  morning." 

"I  hope  none  of  your  friends  are  sick  or  dead," 
added  the  lieutenant,  with  a  show  of  sympathy. 

"  I  have  no  near  friends  to  die  or  be  sick." 

"  Who  sends  you  the  despatch,  then  ? " 

"  I  don't  know  :  I  haven't  opened  it  yet." 

"  You  haven't  ?  What  is  the  telegraph  for  but  to 
hurry  up  things  ?  and  you  haven't  opened  the  envelope 
yet !  "  exclaimed  the  impulsive  young  Irishman. 

"  I  will  open  it  now,"  said  Tom,  as  he  broke  the 
seal 

"Faix,  you  are  mighty  cool  about  it,"  laughed 
O'Hara.  "  Where  is  it  from  ? " 

"  From  London.  I  will  read  it  to  you,  O'Hara,  if 
you  will  keep  it  to  yourself." 

"  Oh,  no  !  I  don't  ask  to  hear  what's  in  it." 

"  But  I  want  you  to  hear  it." 

"Then  I  will  keep  your  secret." 

" '  Uncle  dead  ;  letters  sent :  come  to  London  quick. 

RODWOOD.'  " 

This  .was  the  despatch. 


YOUNG   AMERICA   HOMEWARD    BOUND.  2$ 


CHAPTER   II. 

THE   LETTER    FROM    LONDON. 

"  T  THOUGHT  you  said  you  had  no  friends  to  die  or 

JL  be  sick,"  said  O'Hara,  when  Tom  Speers  had  read 
the  neglected  despatch. 

"  I  said  I  had  no  near  friends,"  explained  Tom. 

"  Don't  you  call  your  uncle  a  near  friend,  especially 
if  you  have  no  others  ? " 

"  I  should  say  that  would  depend  upon  circumstances. 
I  never  lived  with  my  uncle,  and  I  never  saw  a  great 
deal  of  him.  He  was  a  very  rich  man :  I  have  heard 
it  said  that  he  was  worth  five  or  six  millions." 

"Murder!  what  an  uncle!"  exclaimed  O'Hara. 
"  Five  or  six  millions  !  that's  a  power  of  money.  How 
many  children  had  he  ?  " 

"  None  at  all ;  not  a  chick  nor  a  child,"  replied  Tom, 
amused  at  the  manner  of  his  companion,  who_  always 
indulged  in  the  brogue  when  he  was  excited. 

"  Howly  St.  Patrick !  five  or  six  millions  of  money, 
and  not  a  child  in  the  world  ?  What  has  he  done  with 
it  all  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,"  replied  Tom  coolly. 

"  How  many  brothers  and  sisters  had  he  ?  "  asked 


26  ISLES    OF    THE    SEA  ;    OR, 

O'Hara,  opening  his  mouth  with  the  interest  he  felt  in 
the  case. 

"  None  at  all." 

"  How  can  he  be  your  uncle,  then  ?  That's  what 
bothers  me." 

"  My  father  was  his  only  brother,  and  they  had  no 
sisters.  My  father  died  w,hen  I  was  ten  years  old  ; 
and  my  mother  died  two  years  ago,  just  before  I  joined 
the  academy  ship." 

"  Begorra,  then  you  are  the  heir  of  the  five  or  six 
millions!"  shouted  O'Hara,  as  excited  as  though  all 
the  money  were  coming  to  him.  "  Faix,  Fm  glad  to  be 
in  the  same  watch  with  you !  I  shall  make  it  the  busi- 
ness of  my  loife  to  cultivate  your  frindship." 

"  I  don't  think  it  will  pay  for  you  to  do  so,  for  I  never 
saw  my  uncle  a  dozen  times  in  my  life ;  and  I  am  confi- 
dent he  has  given  his  money  to  some  other  person," 
answered  Tom,  laughing  at  the  enthusiasm  of  his  com- 
panion. "  He  never  did  a  thing  for  me,  and,  what  is 
worse,  he  never  did  a  thing  for  my  mother  when  she 
needed  help ;  and  so  it  isn't  likely  that  he  has  left  any 
of  his  money  for  me." 

"  Whose  name  is  it  signed  to  the  despatch  ? " 

"Rodwood;  Judge  Rodwood.  He  always  was  a 
great  crony  and  adviser  of  my  uncle  ;  and  now  I  sup- 
pose he  is  the  executor  or  administrator." 

"  Why  should  he  telegraph  to  you  if  your  uncle  didn't 
lave  you  the  money?  "  demanded  O'Hara  warmly. 

"  I  don't  know :  I  may  get  the  letters  he  sent  before 
we  sail  for  home." 

"  But  he  says  you  are  to  go  to  London  quick  ;  and  I 
shall  not  have  you  in  my  watch,  after  all." 


YOUNG    AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  27 

"  Yes,  you  will ;  for  I  shall  not  go  to  London,"  added 
Tom  decidedly. 

"  Howly  Mother  !  not  go,  when  there  is  five  or  six 
millions  of  money  waiting  for  you  to  put  your  hand  to 
it?"  gasped  O'Hara. 

"  I  don't  know  that  there  is  even  a  single  dollar  wait- 
ing for  me ;  and  if  I  knew  there  were  a  million  I 
wouldn't  go,"  answered  Tom,  laughing  at  his  friend's 
zeal. 

"  You  wouldn't !  what  are  you  made  of  ?  You  are 
cowlder  than  a  frozen  brickbat !  What's  the  rayson 
you  won't  go  ?  "  inquired  the  lieutenant. 

"  I'll  tell  you  why.  My  father  died  worth  only  about 
five  thousand  dollars.  My  mother  kept  this  money  for 
me ;  and  she  took  care  of  me  with  only  an  income  of 
three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  a  year.  She  asked  my 
uncle  for  a  little  help,  and  he  took  no  notice  of  her  let- 
ter. This  was  a  year  before  she  died,  and  she  wanted 
to  send  me  to  college.  Then  she  went  to  see  him, 
thinking  he  might  not  have  got  the  letter.  He  put  her 
off  for  a  time  ;  but  he  finally  told  her  he  would  do 
nothing  for  her.  I  never  went  to  see  him  after  that, 
though  he  often  sent  for  me.  He  did  not  like  my 
mother,  and  he  never  invited  her  to  his  house. 

"  After  my  mother  died,  I  made  up  my  mind  that  I 
wanted  to  go  to  sea,  and  work  my  way  up  to  be  captain 
of  a  ship.  My  mother's  brother  was  my  guardian,  and 
he  consented  to  use  my  little  fortune  in  paying  my  ex- 
penses in  this  institution.  Now  I  am  here  ;  and  I  have 
just  got  waked  up  as  I  never  was  before.  At  one 
bound,  I  have  become  first  master  of  the  Tritonia.  I 
like  the  berth ;  and  I  am  going  to  do  a  great  deal  bet- 


28  ISLES    OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

ter  than  I  have  yet.  Now,  do  you  think  I  will  leave 
this  high  place  in  the  vessel  at  the  call  of  one  I  don't 
care  a  straw  about?  I  never  even  saw  Judge  Rod- 
wood,  though  I  have  heard  enough  about  him." 

"  He  may  be  your  guardian  under  the  will." 

"  I  don't  care  if  he  is  :  I  have  only  one  guardian 
that  I  know  any  thing  about,  and  that's  my  uncle  on 
my  mother's  side.  I  like  this  situation  too  well  to  leave 
it,"  continued  Tom,  independent  as  a  basket  of  chips. 

"  But  the  money  ?  "  suggested  O'Hara. 

"  I  don't  know  that  my  rich  uncle  has  left  me  any 
money ;  and,  in  fact,  I  don't  care  if  he  has.  I  have  not 
quite  forgiven  him  for  refusing  to  help  my  mother." 

"  You  might  take  his  money,  whether  you  forgive  him 
or  not." 

"  Now  he  is  dead,  I  am  willing  to  forgive  him ;  but  I 
don't  ask  any  favors  of  him  or  his  estate." 

"  Faix,  you  are  moighty  indepindint." 

"I  love  the  Tritonia  with  all  my  heart  just  now; 
and  I  wouldn't  leave  her  for  filthy  lucre  any  more  than 
I  would  cast  off  the  girl  that  loved  me  for  it.  Judge 
Rodwood  is  a  great  boatman,  and  has  a  steam  yacht, 
though  I  believe  my  uncle  owned  it ;  so  that  I  might 
have  a  chance  to  go  to  sea  in  good  shape  if  I  went  to 
him.  But  I  like  my  place  on  board  this  vessel  better ; 
and  I  mean  to  stay  here  as  long  as  I  can.  I  have  told 
you  all  about  my  affairs,  O'Hara  ;  and  now  you  will  not 
blow  on  me,  will  you  ?  " 

"  Faix,  I  won't,  thin  !  Not  a  word  shall  pass  my 
lips,"  protested  the  warm-hearted  Irishman. 

"  If  the  vice-principal  should  see  this  message,  or 
hear  of  it,  he  would  tell  Mr.  Lowington ;  and  he  might 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  29 

make  me  go  to  London,  whether  I  am  willing  or  not," 
added  Tom  rather  anxiously. 

"  I'm  sure  he  would  make  you  go  to  London  for  your 
own  good.  But  not  a  word  will  I  spake  till  I  have 
your  permission  to  do  so." 

"  Thank  you,  O'Hara :  I  am  sure  we  shall  be  good 
friends." 

"  You  may  bet  your  life  on  that !  You  are  a  broth 
of  a  boy,  with  five  or  six  millions,  more  or  less,  in  your 
trousers-pocket ;  and  you  may  depind  upon  it,  I'll  stick 
to  you  like  a  brother,"  said  O'Hara,  with  a  wild  laugh. 

"  Don't  consider  me  an  heir  till  we  have  further 
information.  But  we  were  very  good  friends  before  I 
read  this  message  to  you." 

"  Faix,  we  were  !  " 

The  conversation  was  continued  till  the  two  officers 
were  called  to  attend  to  their  duties,  when  the  first  part 
of  the  watch  was  relieved.  The  following  week  was 
spent  at  Seville,  and  then  the  squadron  returned  to 
Gibraltar.  The  vessels  had  hardly  anchored  before 
Mr.  Lowington's  agent  came  off  with  a  mail  for  the 
students  and  others  on  board.  There  was  a  letter  for 
Tom  Speers. 

He  put  it  into  his  pocket  without  stopping  to  read  it, 
though  not  till  he  had  seen  that  the  post-mark  was 
London.  This  was  the  letter  alluded  to  in  the  tele- 
graphic despatch  ;  and  doubtless  it  contained  full  par- 
ticulars of  the  death  of  his  uncle,  and  an  explanation 
of  the  reason  why  he  was  summoned  to  London.  Tom 
was  not  inclined  to  read  it,  for  he  did  not  wish  to  be 
told  of  any  thing  that  would  call  him  away  from  the 
Tritonia.  His  ambition  was  thoroughly  aroused,  and 


JO  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

he  was  resolved  to  win  the  highest  position  in  the 
vessel. 

All  who  had  received  letters  from  home  were  busy 
reading  them,  and  the  discipline  of  the  squadron  was 
sufficiently  relaxed  to  permit  them  to  do  so  without 
interruption;  but  Tom  Speers  put  his  letter  into  "his 
pocket.  O'Hara  had  news  from  home,  and  he  was  busy 
digesting  it,  so  that  he  could  not  speak  to  him  about 
his  affairs.  He  felt  the  need  of  counsel,  while  he 
dreaded  to  receive  it  lest  it  should  oblige  him  to  aban- 
don the  Tritonia  and  the  brilliant  hopes  of  the  fu- 
ture. 

Perhaps  his  uncle  had  left  him  a  fortune,  for  there 
were  a  dozen  fortunes  in  the  vast  pile  of  wealth  the 
dead  man  had  left  behind  him.  It  was  even  probable, 
in  Tom's  estimation,  that  he  had  done  so,  for  he  had 
been  named  after  his  uncle  ;  and,  if  he  did  not  care  for 
his  nephew,  he  might  desire  to  have  his  name  live  after 
he  could  no  longer  bear  it  except  upon  the  costly  mon- 
ument that  marked  his  last  resting-place.  The  young 
man  felt  no  deep  affection  for  his  uncle,  and  had  no 
great  respect  for  his  memory.  A  few  thousands  given 
to  his  mother  while  she  was  pinching  herself  to  bring 
up  her  boy  would  have  been  better  than  as  many  hun- 
dred thousands  to  him  now  that  she  was  gone. 

Tom  felt  that  he  was  alone  in  the  world,  and  he  had 
only  to  look  out  for  himself.  While  he  cherished  no 
spite  or  ill-will  towards  his  departed  uncle,  he  did  not 
quite  like  the  idea  of  being  made  a  rich  man  by  his 
bounty.  He  was  very  proud  and  independent ;  and  to 
accept  a  fortune  from  his  uncle,  seemed  almost  like 
treachery  to  his  mother.  It  was  the  sentimentalism  of 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  31 

the  young  man,  which  a  few  years  of  contact  with  the 
world  would  obliterate. 

The  letter  from  Judge  Rodwood  was  in  his  pocket, 
and  it  seemed  to  burn  there.  He  was  curious  to  know 
its  contents,  but  he  did  not  wish  to  be  influenced  by 
any  thing  it  might  contain.  He  did  not  like  to  be 
tempted  by  wealth  to  give  up  his  present  ambitious 
prospects.  He  thought  every  minute,  as  he  looked  at 
his  shipmates  reading  their  letters  from  home,  that  he 
would  open  the  one  from  the  judge  ;  but  he  did  not. 
He  sat  upon  the  quarter-deck,  gazing  listlessly  at  all 
the  objects  in  sight,  from  the  lofty  rock  bristling  with 
guns  and  batteries,  to  the  scenes  which  were  transpir- 
ing on  board  of  the  schooner ;  but  he  could  not  decide 
to  do  any  thing  to  settle  the  present  problem  of  exist- 
ence. 

He  had  made  up  his  mind  to  be  a  sailor.  He  had 
longed  for  a  "  life  on  the  ocean  wave  "  since  he  was 
a  small  boy,  and  read  the  tales  of  the  sea ;  but  his 
devotion  to  his  mother  did  not  permit  him  to-  mention 
the  subject  after  he  had  observed  her  shudder  when 
he  alluded  to  it  for  the  first  and  last  time.  But  he  had 
dreamed,  all  the  time,  of  roaming  the  seas,  and  visit- 
ing the  distant  lands  of  the  earth.  He  had  put  him- 
self in  the  way  to  realize  these  visions  as  soon  as  he 
had  in  a  measure  recovered  from  the  deep  grief  occa- 
sioned by  the  death  of  his  mother.  Now,  when  he  had 
almost  reached  the  pinnacle  of  his  hopes,  came*  this 
command  of  his  uncle's  executor  —  as  he  supposed  the 
judge  was  —  to  abandon  his  delightful  mission. 

But  Judge  Rodwood  was  not  his  guardian,  so  far  as 
he  knew ;  and  he  was  not  willing  to  recognize  his  right 


32     .  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

to  order  him  to  London.  Perry  Bowman,  his  mother's 
brother,  was  all  the  guardian  he  could  recognize.  This 
gentleman  had  possession  of  his  littje  fortune,  or  what 
was  left  of  it ;  for  his  expenses  in  the  academy  squadron 
had  already  absorbed  a  considerable  portion  of  the 
principal,  besides  the  income. 

While  he  was  thinking  of  the  subject,  unable  to 
come  to  a  decision  in  regard  to  the  letter,  which  he 
was  confident  was  a  repetition  of  the  order  for  him  to 
hasten  to  London,  he  saw  a  boat  leave  the  American 
Prince,  and  pull  first  to  the  Josephine,  and  then  to 
the  Tritonia.  The  officer  in  charge  of  it  delivered 
a  note  to  each  vice-principal,  and  then  returned  to  the 
steamer,  which  was  still  taking  in  coal  at  the.  station. 

All  the  preparation  for  the  voyage  among  "  The  Isles 
of  the  Sea "  had  been  completed  on  board  of  the  two 
consorts.  All  the  water-tanks  and  spare  casks  had 
been  filled  with  water,  and  an  abundance  of  fresh  and 
salt  provisions  had  been  taken  on  board.  The  com- 
passes had  been  adjusted,  and  the  chronometers  had 
been  regulated  ;  and  every  thing  was  in  readiness  for 
sailing  at  a  moment's  notice,  though  the  steamer  would 
not  have  received  all  her  coal  till  after  dark. 

The  boat  which  brought  the  note  had  hardly  returned 
to  the  flag-ship  before  the  signal  for  sailing  appeared 
at  the  mainmast  of  the  Tritonia.  Word  was  passed 
along  among  the  officers,  that  the  two  schooners  would 
sail  at  ten,  leaving  the  American  Prince  to  follow  in 
the  evening. 

"  We  are  off  in  ten  minutes,"  said  O'Hara,  disturb- 
ing the  meditations  of  Tom  Speers,  as  soon  as  the 
news  had  been  circulated  among  the  students. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  33 

"  I  am  not  sorry  that  we  are  not  to  wait  all  day  in 
port  for  the  steamer,"  replied  Tom.  "  You  have  had 
letters  from  home,  O'Hara.  I  hope  your  friends  are 
all  well." 

"  First  class,"  replied  the  fourth  lieutenant.  "  And 
did  you  get  the  letters  from  London  of  which  you  were 
advised  in  the  despatch  ?  " 

"  I  got  one  letter,  but  it  is  a  very  thick  one,  and  very 
likely  the  envelope  contains  two  or  three  of  them." 

"  Well,  what  is  it  all  about  ?  How  much  money  has 
your  uncle  left  you  ? "  asked  O'Hara  glibly,  but  with 
deep  interest  manifested  in  his  bright  eyes. 

"  I  don't  know :  I  haven't  opened  the  letter  yet," 
replied  Tom,  with  a  smile. 

"  Haven't  opened  it !  "  exclaimed  the  lieutenant, 
holding  up  both  hands  in  amazement.  "  Upon  my 
sowl,  you  are  a  lunatic,  Speers  !  you  haven't  a  head 
upon  your  shoulders  at  all,  at  all !  " 

"  Now,  I  think  I  have,"  added  Tom,  laughing 
heartily  at  the  earnestness  of  his  companion.  "  Did 
you  open  your  letters  ?  " 

"  To  be  sure  I  did." 

"  Why  did  you  open  them  ?  " 

"  Why  did  I  open  them  ?  Howly  Mother,  what  a 
question  !  Why  did  I  open  them  ?  To  see  what  was 
in  them.  What  else  would  I  open  them  for  ?  " 

"  For  nothing  else.  You  wanted  to  know  what  was 
in  them  ;  and  the  right  thing  for  you  to  do  was  to  open 
them.  I  don't  want  to  know  what  is  in  mine ;  and  for 
that  reason  I  don't  open  them.  Isn't  my  way  of  doing 
it  just  as  sensible  as  yours  ?  "  demanded  Tom,  satisfied 
with  his  logic. 


34  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

"  You  don't  want  to  know  what  is  in  them  !  By  the 
powers,  that's  the  rayson  why  you  are  a  lunatic !  I 
don't  know  but  I  ought  to  report  you  to  the  vice-prin- 
cipal before  we  sail,  that  you  may  have  proper  medical 
tratement  before  we  get  out  of  the  raych  of  the 
docther." 

"  Don't  do  that,  if  you  please,  O'Hara,"  said  Tom 
earnestly.  "  I  told  you  the  reason  why  I  did  not  wish 
to  be  sent  to  London." 

"  Never  .  you  fear.  Sure,  it's  joking  I  was.  I 
wouldn't  mutther  the  first  taste  of  a  sound  to  bother 
you ;  but,  upon  my  sowl,  you  are  the  quayrest  boy  I 
ever  met  in  the  whole  course  of  my  life.  You  don't 
care  a  straw  how  much  money  your  rich  uncle  has  left 
you ! " 

"  I  don't  think  I  do.  If  he  had  given  my  poor 
mother  a  hundredth  part  of  his  big  fortune  when  she 
was  alive,  I  would  have  blessed  his  memory,  and 
heeded  his  slightest  wish,  alive  or  dead." 

"  Then  the  executor  of  your  uncle  must  go  down  on 
his  knees,  and  beg  you  to  take  the  fortune  he  has  left 
you !  "  exclaimed  the  lieutenant.  "  If  you  don't  want 
it  yourself,  take  the  money,  and  hand  it  over  to  the 
poor,  myself  among  the  number." 

"  I  suppose  I  shall  take  whatever  my  uncle  has  left 
me ;  and  I  shall  try  to  make  a  good  use  of  it.  But 
when  I  came  into  the  academy  squadron,  I  had  made 
up  my  mind  that  I  would  be  the  architect  of  my  own 
fortunes.  I  came  here  to  learn  the  arts  of  seamanship 
and  navigation  as  the  means  to  earn  my  own  living.  I 
don't  feel  like  turning  away  from  my  plan  yet.  I  love 
the  sea." 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  35 

"  But  with  all  the  money  your  uncle  will  leave  you, 
can't  you  sail  all  over  the  world  in  your  own  yacht ; 
and  that  yacht  a  steamer  like  the  American  Prince,  or 
a  full-rigged  ship  like  the  Young  America  ?  What  are 
you  talking  about  ?  " 

"  But  I  want  to  finish  my  course  in  the  Tritonia ; 
and,  if  you  won't  laugh  at  me,  I  mean  to  be  the  captain 
of  her  before  she  reaches  the  shores  of  the  United 
States,"  said  Tom,  with  enthusiasm. 

"  Oh,  murther !  is  that  what's  the  matter  wid  you  ?  " 
ejaculated  O'Hara,  with  a  laugh.  "  I  had  that  same 
fayver;  and,  when  I  first  got  into  the  Tritonia,  I 
said  to  myself  that  I  would  be  the  captain  of  her  in 
six  months ;  and  now  it's  more  than  a  year  I'm  in  her, 
and  I'm  only  fourth  lieutenant." 

"  If  I  fail,  I  fail ;  but  I  shall  do  all  I  can  to  win  the 
position." 

"But  don't  be  a  lunatic  any  longer!  Open  the  let- 
ter, and  see  what's  the  matter.  Faix,  I'm  dying  with 
curiosity  to  know  what's  in  it,"  continued  the  lieuten- 
ant. 

"  One  reason  why  I  did  not  open  it  before  was  that 
I  wanted  to  talk  with  you  about  it ;  for  I  believe  you 
are  the  best  friend  I  have  in  the  ship/'  said  Tom  ear- 
nestly ;  for  he  had  a  great  admiration  for  his  fellow 
\vatch-officer. 

"Thank  you  for  that.  Upon  my  sowl,  I  think  you 
are  a  good  fellow,  if  you  are  a  lunatic  on  the  letter. 
Take  the  advice  of  your  best  friend  on  board,  and  see 
what's  in  that  envelope  .immejitly." 

"  I  will,  since  you  advise  it,"  replied  Tom,  taking  the 
letter  from  his  pocket. 


36  ISLES   OF  THE  SEA;    OR, 

While  O'Hara  was  glancing  at  the  superscription,  the 
boatswain's  whistle  sounded  through  the  ship. 

"  All  hands,  up  anchor  1 "  shouted  that  officer,  after 
he  had  piped  the  call. 

Tom  Speers  grasped  the  letter,  and  returned  it  to  his 
pocket  At  the  next  instant  he  was  at  his  station,  for 
with  his  lofty  ambition  he  could  not  afford  to  be  the 
last  in  his  place.  The  first  lieutenant  was  in  position 
on  the  quarter-deck,  with  the  speaking-trumpet  in  his 
hand,  though .  it  was  an  emblem  of  authority,  rather 
than  a  useful  implement  in  a  quiet  time. 
•  "  Man  the  capstan  !  "  said  this  high  official,  in  mod- 
erate tones,  considering  the  magnitude  of  the  position 
he  filled. 

The  order  was  repeated  by  the  other  officers  till  it 
came  to  the  forecastle.  Every  seaman  knew  precisely 
what  he  was  to  do  in  the  operation  of  weighing  the 
anchor ;  and  in  a  moment  the  bars  -were  shipped  and 
swiftered.  All  hands  were  then  in  position,  and  wait- 
ing for  the  next  order. 

"  Heave  around  !  Heave  in  the  cable  to  a  short 
stay  !  "  added  the  first  lieutenant ;  and  the  order  went 
forward  as  before. 

The  first  master  had  been  directed  to  inform  him 
when  the  cable  had  the  proper  scope,  which  had  been 
indicated  to  him. 

"  Avast  heaving !  "  said  Tom  Speers.  "  Cable  at  a 
short  stay,  sir,"  he  added  to  the  first  lieutenant. 

"  Pawl  the  capstan !  Unship  the  bars  !  "  continued 
the  executive  officer. 

The  cable  was  well  stoppered,  or  secured  where  it 
was.  About  three-fourths  of  the  whole  of  the  cable 


YOUNG  AMERICA   HOMEWARD   BOUND.  37 

which  had  been  run  out  was  hauled  in  by  the  opera- 
tions described.  The  wind  was  moderate  in  the  har- 
bor, and  only  enough  was  now  out  to  hold  the  vessel 
while  the  rest  of  the  preparations  were  made  for  getting 
under  way.  The  part  out  was  "  up  and  down,"  and  a 
few  turns  of  the  capstan  would  have  lifted  the  anchor 
clear  of  the  bottom. 

The  length  of  cable  used  in  anchoring,  or  in  holding 
the  vessel  at  a  short  stay,  requires  the  exercise  of  dis- 
cretion and  judgment ;  but  the  young  officers  were 
required  to  determine  for  themselves  all  these  ques- 
tions. The  harder  it  blows,  or  the  swifter  the  tide,  the 
greater  the  scope  of  cable  needed.  It  is  true,  the  adult 
boatswain  was  always  on  hand  to  see  that  the  work 
was  properly  done  on  the  forecastle  ;  and  the  vice- 
principal,  who  was  the  only  adult  seaman  in  the  cabin, 
closely  observed  the  manoeuvres  made ;  but  they  never 
interfered,  unless  the  safety  of  the  vessel  required  them 
to  do  so.  If  the  young  officers  were  at  fault,  they 
were  criticised  afterwards,  when  the  crew  were  not 
present. 

"  Stations  for  loosing  sail !  "  said  the  first  lieutenant, 
when  the  cable  was  at  a  short  stay. 

The  fore-topsail  was  shaken  out,  the  foresail  and 
mainsail  were  set ;  and  the  order  was  given  to  man 
the  jib  and  flying-jib  halyards,  and  to  ship  the  capstan 
bars  again. 

"  Anchor  a-weigh,  sir !  "  reported  the  first  master  on 
the  forecastle. 

Tom  Speers  saw  that  the  anchor  was  clear  of  the 
bottom  when  the  hands  at  the  capstan  had  heaved  a 
few  turns. 


38  ISLES    OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

"  Let  go  the  downhauls,  and  hoist  away ! "  added 
the  executive  officer  ;  and  at  the  order  up  went  the  jib 
and  flying-jib. 

The  wind  was  about  north,  and  the  sails  were 
trimmed  as  they  filled.  As  soon  as  the  Tritonia  was 
fairly  under  way,  her  fore-topmast-staysail,  fore-top- 
gallant-sail, and  main-gaff-topsail  were  set.  At  the 
same  time  the  order  was  given  to  cat  and  fish  the  an- 
chor, or  hoist  it  up  to  the  cat-head,  and  then  put  it  in 
its  usual  position  when  the  vessel  was  at  sea. 

As  the  beautiful  craft  swung  around,  and  the  breeze 
filled  her  sails,  ringing  cheers  came  from  the  shore  and 
from  the  men-of-war  in  the  harbor ;  all  of  which  were 
returned  with  vigor  by  the  young  tars.  With  the  wind 
on  the  beam,  the  two  schooners  stood  out  of  the  bay, 
and  in  a  short  time  were  passing  through  the  Strait  of 
Gibraltar.  As  they  went  out  into  the  broad  ocean,  the 
wind  freshened  till  they  were  making  ten  knots  an 
hour.  It  was  study  time  for  the  port-watch,  and  Tom 
had  no  chance  yet  to  read  his  letter. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  39 


CHAPTER   III. 

AN   APPROACHING   SQUALL. 

THE  port-watch  were  on  duty  from  twelve  till  four 
in  the  afternoon ;  but  the  second  part  had  their 
off  time  for  the  first  two  hours.  The  Tritonia  was 
jumping  at  a  lively  pace  in  the  white-capped  sea,  headed 
west,  a  quarter  south.  O'Hara  had  been  impatiently 
waiting  for  this  time  to  come  to  dive  into  the  mysteries 
of  that  London  letter.  He  was  more  anxious  to  know 
the  contents  of  the  envelope  than  Tom  was. 

As  soon  as  the  starboard  watch  had  piped  to  dinner, 
the  fourth  lieutenant  led  the  way  to  a  place  on  the  lee- 
side  of  the  quarter-deck  where  they  could  be  alone. 
Tom  produced  the  important  letter,  and  broke  the  seal. 
As  he  had  surmised,  it  contained  two  other  letters,  one 
of  them  addressed  to  Mr.  Lowington,  the  principal  of 
the  squadron,  and  the  other  in  the  handwriting  of  his 
maternal  uncle. 

"  Sure,  you  can't  deliver  that  one  to  Mr.  Lowington 
now,"  said  O'Hara,  looking  back  to  the  distant  land 
which  would  soon  be  out  of  sight. 

"  I  am  not  anxious  to  deliver  it ;  for  I  can  guess  the 
substance  of  what  it  contains,"  replied  Tom. 


40  ISLES    OF   THE    SEA  j    OR, 

"  Well,  what's  in  the  letter  from  London  ?  "  asked 
the  lieutenant  impatiently. 

Tom  Speers  unfolded  the  sheet.  It  was  a  brief  busi- 
ness-like document,  hardly  covering  a  page  of  the  paper, 
though  written  in  a  very  open  hand.  It  was  dated  on 
board  steam-yacht  Marian,  at  Southampton,  though  it 
had  been  mailed  in  London. 

Thomas  Speers,  the  millionnaire  uncle  of  the  first 
master,  had  died  six  weeks  before.  He  had  given  about 
half  of  his  immense  fortune  to  charitable  institutions, 
and  the  other  half  to  his  nephew.  Judge  Rodwood 
was  appointed  guardian  and  trustee,  so  far  as  this 
property  was  concerned.  The  judge  had  come  to 
England  in  his  steam-yacht  in  order  that  he  might 
follow  the  academy  squadron,  if,  as  he  feared,  it  had 
left  Europe  on  its  return  voyage  to  America. 

"  Give  me  your  hand,  Speers  !  "  said  O'Hara  with 
enthusiasm.  "  I  was  dead  sure  your  uncle  had  made  a 
millionnaire  of  you  !  " 

"  I  was  rather  afraid  he  had,"  replied  Tom  moodily, 
as  he  glanced  at  the  letter  again.  "  He  gives  me  no 
particulars  of  the  death  of  my  uncle,  or  in  relation  to 
the  fortune." 

'  Upon  my  sowl,  you  are  the  quarist  mortal  that  iver 
came  into  the  world,  or  will  iver  go  out  of  it  after  get- 
ting quare  in  it.  •  You  are  afraid  your  uncle  has  made 
a  millionnaire  of  you  !  Where  is  your  gratitude  ?  " 

"  I  don't  carry  it  in  my  trousers-pocket.  The  whole 
of  it  is,  O'Hara,  I  am  too  much  interested  in  the  voyage 
of  the  Tritonia  to  care  much  about  the  contents  of  this 
letter.  I  have  just  become  an  officer,  and  I  don't  want 
to  give  up  my  position." 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  41 

"I  understand  that;  but  what's  the  use  of  running 
away  from  the  fortune  that  is  waiting  for  you  ?  " 

"  I  don't  intend  to  run  away  from  it.  I  think  it  will 
keep  till  the  Tritonia  returns  to  the  United  States." 

"  Another  of  those  letters  is  addressed  to  you.  Will 
you  leave  that  till  to-morrow  before  you  open  it  ?  " 

"  Not  at  all.  This  one  is  from  my  uncle,  Perry  Bow- 
man ;  and  I  am  always  glad  to  hear  from  him,"  replied 
Tom,  as  he  opened  the  letter.  "  '  Wonderful  news  for  you, 
my  dear  boy,'  "  continued  the  first  master,  reading  from 
the  letter :  "  '  your  uncle  is  dead,  and  has  left  you  at  least 
three  millions  of  dollars  :  so  much  forbearing  his  name, 
for  he  wanted  to  preserve  it  after  he  was  gone.  You 
are  to  have  the  income  of  your  money  till  you  are 
twenty-five,  and  then  a  million  every  five  years  till  you 
get  the  whole  of  it  into  your  own  hands.  I  have 
resigned  my  guardianship  of  you  in  favor  of  Judge  Rod- 
wood.  I  offered  to  pay  over  to  him  about  four  thousand 
dollars  in  my  hands ;  but  he  declined  to  take  it  till  you 
had  formally  named  him  as  your  guardian,  as  you  have 
the  right  to  do,  so  far  as  personal  care  is  concerned. 
He  advised  me  to  pay  over  the  money  to  you  at  once ; 
and  I  send  you  a  letter  of  credit  for  the  amount.  You 
may  want  it  more  before  you  get  home  than  after- 
wards.' " 

"  Howly  St.  Patrick  !  "  exclaimed  O'Hara,  as  Tom 
opened  the  valuable  document  alluded  to.  "  You  are 
measly  with  money." 

"  That  paper  will  be  convenient,  wherever  I  happen 
to  be,"  said  Tom,  with  a  smile,  as  he  put  the  letter  of 
credit  into  his  pocket-book.  "  I  could  have  made  a 
better  use  of  it  six  months  ago  than  I  can  now.  I  was 


42  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

poor  as  a  church-mouse  then,  when  most  of  the  fellows 
were  made  of  money." 

"You  can  buy  them  all  out  now,"  added  O'Hara. 
"  Now,  what  are  you  going  to  do  about  this  business, 
my  lad  ? " 

"  I  can't  do  any  thing  now :  it  is  too  late  for  me  to 
go  to  London,"  replied  Tom  with  a  smile. 

"  I  see  you  are  satisfied  with  the  matter  as  it  is." 

"  I  am." 

"  But  Judge  Rodwood  is  over  here  in  his  steam-yacht 
for  the  purpose  of  following  the  squadron,  if  he  don't 
find  it  in  European^  waters,"  added  the  lieutenant. 

"  I  am.  willing  he  should  follow  it." 

"  When  he  begins  to  look  into  the  matter,  anybody 
in  Gibraltar  can  tell  him  the  fleet  has  gone  to  Madeira ; 
and  all  he  has  to  do  is  to  follow  you." 

"  I  don't  object." 

"  Of  course  you  don't ;  but  when  he  finds  you,  he 
will  take  you  out  of  the  vessel." 

"  I  don't  believe  he  will,  if  I  am  not  ready  to  leave 
her.  Don't  my  uncle  Perry  say  I  have  the  right  to 
name  my  own  guardian  ?  if  the  judge  don't  do  the  right 
thing,  I  will  not  consent  to  name  him  as  my  guardian. 
But  when  I  tell  him  I  prefer  to  stay  in  the  Tritonia,  if 
he  is  a  reasonable  man,  as  I  think  he  is,  he  will  not 
object." 

"  But  you  are  not  doing  the  right  thing  yourself,  my 
boy,"  protested  O'Hara.  "  What  kind  of  a  way  was  it 
to  put  a  telegraphic  despatch  in  your  pocket,  and  not 
open  it  ?  And  what  kind  of  a  way  was  it  to  lave  your 
letter  unopened  till  it  was  too  late  to  do  what  you  were 
told  by  your  guardian  ?  Don't  your  uncle  Perry  tell 
you  to  come  home  as  soon  as  ever  you  can  ? " 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  43 

"  He  has  resigned  as  my  guardian ;  and  the  other 
one  has  not  been  properly  appointed,"  said  Tom,  laugh- 
ing at  his  own  ingenuity  in  devising  an  excuse. 

"  How  do  you  know  what's  in  the  letter  to  Mr.  Low- 
ington  ?  "  demanded  the  lieutenant. 

"  I  have  no  doubt  it  contains  an  order  for  my  dis- 
charge from  the  academy  squadron,"  replied  Tom.  "  I 
would  deliver  it,  if  the  principal  were  only  here  ;  for  I 
have  no  right  to  keep  his  letters  back,  whatever  I  do 
with  my  own." 

"  I  think  you  had  better  give  the  letter  to  the  vice- 
principal." 

"  I  am  willing  to  do  that." 

"  I  am  afraid  the  powers  that  be  will  blame  you  for 
not  opening  the  letter  before  we  sailed,"  continued 
O'Hara. 

"  I  am  willing  to  bear  the  blame  for  what  I  have 
done,"  replied  Tom ;  and,  seeing  the  vice-principal 
coming  up  from  the  cabin,  he  delivered  the  letter  to 
him  as  he  reached  the  deck. 

"  Where  did  you  get  this  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Pelham,  sur- 
prised to  see  a  sealed  letter  to  the  principal  so  soon 
after  leaving  port. 

"  It  was  in  a  letter  to  me,  which  I  did  not  open  till 
just  now,"  replied  Tom. 

"  And  why  didn't  you  open  it  before  the  ship  sailed  ?  " 
demanded  Mr.  Pelham,  quite  as  much  astonished  as 
the  fourth  lieutenant  had  been. 

"  I  didn't  care  to  open  it,  sir,"  answered  Tom,  won- 
dering how  he  could  get  out  of  the  scrape  without  tell- 
ing the  whole  truth. 

"  That  is  very  strange." 


44  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

"  I  had  some  idea  of  what  the  letter  contained," 
added  Tom,  with  a  smile. 

"  And  that  was  the  reason  you  didn't  open  it  ? " 

"I  was  not  interested  in  it." 

"There  seems  to  be  something  under  all  this, 
Speers,"  continued  the  vice-principal,  looking  into  the 
honest  face  of  the  young  man.  "  What  is  it  ?  " 

"A  telegraph-despatch,  sir,"  replied  Tom,  handing 
the  document  to  Mr.  Pelham. 

Tom  found,  after  due  consideration,  that  there  was 
no  way  out  of  the  scrape ;  and  he  explained  the  whole 
matter  in  full. 

"  I  don't  care  to  have  my  shipmates  know  about  this, 
sir,"  said  Tom,  when  he  had  told  the  whole  story. 

"  It  is  your  private  affair,  and  you  have  a  right  to 
keep  it  to  yourself  if  you  choose,"  replied  Mr.  Pelham ; 
"and  I  shall  respect  your  wishes." 

"  I  have  told  O'Hara  about  it,  but  no  one  else." 

"  But  it  cannot  be  long  concealed  that  we  have  a  mil- 
lionnaire  on  board,"  added  the  vice-principal,  laughing. 
"  Judge  Rodwood  will  follow  the  squadron  to  Madeira." 

"  When  I  see  him  I  hope  he  will  permit  me  to  re- 
main in  the  Tritonia ;  and  till  that  time  I  don't  care  to 
have  any  thing  said." 

"  Very  well.  But  I  think  you  ought  to  have  opened 
your  letter  before  the  vessel  sailed.  It  was  hardly 
treating  Judge  Rodwood  with  proper  respect,  to  take  no 
notice  of  his  telegraphic  despatch." 

"  Perhaps  it  was  not,  sir  ;  but  I  did  not  know  what 
to  do.  I  suppose  the  whole  of  it  is,  that  I  didn't  want 
to  leave  the  vessel ;  and  I  was  afraid  if  I  answered  the 
despatch,  or  opened  the  letters,  I  might  have  to  go," 


YOUNG  AMERICA   HOMEWARD   BOUND.  45 

pleaded  -Tom  honestly.  "  I  have  no  doubt  that  letter 
to  Mr.  Lowington  contains  a  request  for  my  dis- 
charge." 

"  Probably  it  does ;  but  I  don't  see  that  any  thing 
can  be  done  about  it  now.  The  vessel  is  almost  out  of 
sight  of  land,"  said  Mr.  Pelham,  smiling  ;  and  he  looked 
as  though  he  rather  sympathized  with  the  first  master  in 
the  trials  and  tribulations  cast  upon  him  by  his  coming 
fortune.  "  I  will  consult  with  Mr.  Fluxion,  who  is  my 
senior  in  rank,  as  soqn  as  possible ;  though  the  sea  is 
rather  too  heavy  just  now  to  communicate  with  the 
Josephine,  except  in  a  case  of  emergency." 

"  I  am  in  no  hurry  to  have  any  thing  done,"  replied 
Tom,  laughing  and  shrugging  his  shoulders. 

"  The  last  log  gave  us  ten  knots,  and  the  wind  is 
increasing.  At  this  rate  we  may  get  to  Madeira  before 
the  American  Prince  overhauls  us,"  added  the  vice- 
principal. 

"  I  am  willing,"  chuckled  Tom. 

Mr.  Pelham  descended  to  the  steerage  to  resume  his 
duties  as  instructor  in  navigation.  Tom  was  very  well 
satisfied  with  the  result  of  his  interview,  and  joined 
O'Hara  on  the  lee  side  of  the  vessel.  His  posmon  was 
safe,  for  the  present  at  least ;  and  he  hoped  Judge  Rod- 
wood  would  be  reasonable  enough  to  allow  him  to  com- 
plete his  course  in  the  academy  squadron. 

"  Well,  my  boy,  did  you  get  a  black  eye  from  the 
vice  ? "  asked  O'Hara,  who  had  been  watching  the 
conference  with  the  most  intense  interest. 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it :  Mr.  Pelham  knows  how  it  is  him- 
self, and  he  behaved  very  handsomely,"  replied  Tom 
cheerfully. 


46  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

"  I  suppose  the  news  will  be  all  over  the  ship  now 
before  the  dog-watches  are  out,"  added  O'Hara. 

"  Three  of  us  have  the  secret  now  ;  and  I  think  we 
are  strong  enough  to  keep  it." 

"  Then  it  can't  be  kept." 

"  If  you  keep  a  stopper  on  your  jaw-tackle,  O'Hara, 
it  will  be  safe  till  Judge  Roclwood  arrives  at  Madeira^ 
though  I  am  not  without  a  hope  that  we  shall  be  gone 
when  he  comes." 

"That  is  your  little  game,  is  it?" 

"  There  is  no  game  about  it.  It  is  only  a  hope  I 
have ;  and  I  shall  do  nothing  wrong  about  it." 

"  Of  course  you  won't  do  any  thing  wrong  :  you  are 
not  the  fellow  for  that,"  added  O'Hara,  with  a  little 
taste  of  Irish-  blarney. 

"I  am  not  so  high-toned  as  Raymond;  but,  if  I  intend 
to  be  captain  of  this  vessel,  of  course  I  can't  afford  to 
be  on  the  wrong  side  of  any  question  ;  for  it  is  a 
matter  of  marks  as  well  as  of  morality,"  replied  Tom, 
with  a  laugh. 

The  matter  was  settled,  for  the  present  at  least,  so 
far  as  the  student  was  concerned.  But  the  vice-princi- 
pal was  not  quite  satisfied  with  the  situation.  The 
letter  to  Mr.  Lowington  ought  to  have  been  delivered 
before  the  vessel  left  Gibraltar.  It  might  contain 
something  more  than  an  application  for  the  discharge 
of  the  first  master.  He  was  very  anxious  to  consult 
with  the  senior  vice-principal ;  and,  as  soon  as  the  reci- 
tation he  had  in  hand  was  finished,  he  went  on  deck  to 
take  a  look  at  the  weather. 

The  quarter-watch  had  been  changed,  and  O'Hara 
and  Tom  Speers  were  in  charge  of  the  deck.  They 


YOUNG  AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  47 

had  no  opportunity  to  converse  together  now,  for  it 
was  contrary  to  the  rule  for  officers  on  duty  to  do  any 
unnecessary  talking.  But  they  noticed  the  nervous 
manner  of  the  vice-principal  as  he  looked  up  to  wind- 
ward. The  wind  had  been  increasing  since  the  Trito- 
nia  sailed  in  the  forenoon.  Though  it  still  looked 
squally  and  threatening,  as  it  had  for  the  last  three 
hours,  there  seemed  to  be  a  brief  lull  in  the  force  of 
the  wind,  though  the  barometer  was  falling. 

The  Josephine  was  abreast  of  the  Tritonia ;  for  the 
two  vessels  were  very  equally  matched,  though  each  had 
its  peculiar  advantage  in  different  points.  The  former 
could  hug  the  wind  a  little  closer,  and  the  latter  could 
gain  a  trifle  on  the  other  going  free.  Each  ship's 
company  bragged  of  its  own  craft,  because  each 
had  got  a  little  ahead  of  the  other  on  its  best 
course. 

"  Signal  on  the  Josephine,  sir,"  reported  the  lookout 
on  the  weather  cat-head. 

"  Signal  on  the  Josephine,  Mr.  O'Hara,"  repeated 
the  first  master  in  the  waist. 

"  Call  the  signal-officer,"  added  the  fourth  lieuten- 
ant. 

The  box  containing  the  signals  was  opened;  glasses 
were  in  demand ;  and  the  signal  which  the  Josephine 
displayed  was  promptly  examined. 

"Do  you  make  it  out,  Mr.  Lingall?"  asked  O'Hara, 
rather  impatiently,  for  it  was  an  unusual  thing  for  one 
vessel  of  the  squadron  to  communicate  with  another 
under  like  circumstances. 

" '  Have  you  any '  "  —  replied  Lingall,  who  was  the 
signal-officer,  and  who  had  carefully  studied  his  duties 


48  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  j    OR, 

since  his  unexpected  promotion.  "Reply  that  the 
signal  is  understood,  quartermaster." 

The  proper  flag  was  set,  whereupon  the  Josephine 
began  to  display  single  letters,  indicating  that  the 
article  for  which  she  desired  to  ask  was  not  contained 
in  the  signal  code.  The  process  was  slow,  but  it  was 
sure  in  the  end. 

"  How  far  have  you  got  ? "  asked  O'Hara. 

"  C-h-l-o,"  replied  Lingall. 

"  By  the  powers,  you  have  made  a  mistake,  Mr.  Lin- 
gall  !  "  said  the  fourth  lieutenant,  with  a  laugh. 

"  I  think  not,  sir :  I  take  down  each  letter  as  it 
comes,"  replied  Lingall. 

"  You  have  misplaced  the  letters  :  it  is  c-h-o-1  they 
mean ;  and  they  want  to  ask  if  we  have  the  c-h-o-l-i-c, 
colic." 

"  I  think  not,  sir  ;  for  I  don't  believe  that  is  the 
way  they  spell  '  colic '  on  board  of  the  Josephine," 
added  Lingall,  with  a  smile,  and  not  quite  sure  that  it 
was  prudent  to  expose  the  blunder  of  his  supe- 
rior. 

"  Faix,  you  have  me  there  !  I  see  you  have  learned 
your  spelling-lesson  well,  Mr.  Lingall." 

"  '  R,'  "  continued  the  signal-officer,  adding  another 
letter  to  the  unfinished  word. 

"Chlor,"  said  O'Hara.  "That's  not  a  nautical 
word,  to  be  sure." 

"  No':  it  looks  more  like  a  medical  term,"  added  Mr. 
Pelham,  who  had  joined  the  group  gathered  around  the 
signal  officer. 

"  '  O,' "  continued  Lingall,  as  another  letter  was  in- 
dicated. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  49 

"  Chloro :  that  must  be  chloroform.  The  professors 
on  board  are  going  to  perform  a  surgical  operation." 

"  I  think  not :  there  is  no  doctor  on  board  of  the 
Josephine,"  added  Mr.  Pelham. 

"It  must  be  some  doctor's  stuff,"  persisted  the  fourth 
lieutenant. 

"  If  you  are  patient  for  a  few  moments  longer,  you 
will  not  be  under  the  necessity  of  guessing  what  is 
wanted.  I  am  satisfied  the  word  is  chlorodyne,"  said 
the  vice-principal. 

"  Chlorodyne  !  "  exclaimed  O'Hara.  "  Is  that  a 
rope,  or  something  to  eat  ?  " 

"  Neither  :  it  is  a  medicine  with  which  all  the  ves- 
sels of  the  squadron  are  provided  ;  and  I  have  had 
occasion  to  administer  it  several  times." 

"  If  it's  physic  I've  nothing  to  say  ;  but  if  there  is  a 
rope  in  the  ship  that  I  don't  know,  I  feel  guilty,"  said 
O'Hara,  with  a  mock  sigh  of  relief. 

" '  D,' "  continued  Lingall,  taking  down  the  next 
letter  of  the  word. 

"That's  enough,"  interposed  Mr.  Pelham.  "The 
article  wanted  is  chlorodyne ;  reply  '  understood,'  — 
yes." 

This  signal  was  transmitted,  for  the  Tritonia  had  an 
abundant  supply  of  the  medicine  named ;  and  Mr. 
Pelham  wondered  how  the  Josephine  happened  to  be 
out  of  the  article,  since  it  was  Dr.  Winstock's  favorite 
remedy  in  all  cases  of  colic  or  severe  pain  in  the 
bowels. 

"  Heave  to,  and  wait  for  a  boat,"  was  the  next  mes- 
sage interpreted  from  the  signals. 

The  signal  was  duly  reported  to  the  captain,  who 


JO  ISLES   OF  THE  SEA  ;    OR, 

was  studying  his  lessons  in  the  cabin.  He  directed  the 
officer  of  the  deck  to  obey  the  order,  which  was  regard- 
ed as  coming  from  the  senior  vice-principal.  Simulta- 
neously the  two  vessels  came  up  into  the  wind,  backing 
their  fore-topsails. 

Mr.  Pelham  went  down  into  the  cabin  as  soon  as 
the  Tritonia  was  brought  to  ;  but  he  returned  in  a  few 
moments,  wearing  his  pea-jacket. 

"  This  will  afford  me  an  opportunity  to  consult  with 
the  senior  vice-principal  in  regard  to  your  matter, 
Speers,"  said  Mr.  Pelham  to  the  first  master  in  the 
waist. 

"  I  hope  we  shall  not  be  ordered  back,"  replied  Tom, 
not  a  little  annoyed  at  the  prospect. 

"I  think  there  is  no  danger  of  that,  Speers  ;  but  I 
feel  obliged  to  make  the  case  known  to  Mr.  Fluxion  : 
he  will  at  least  share  the  responsibility  with  me," 
replied  Mr.  Pelham. 

Tom  felt  easier  after  this  assurance.  The  vessel 
pitched  very  heavily  in  the  sea  when  she  was  hove  to ; 
and,  if  the  junior  vice-principal  had  any  doubt  about 
the  propriety  of  leaving  the  Tritonia  at  such  a  time, 
he  did  not  express  it  to  any  one  on  board.  Certainly 
the  indications  of  the  weather,  as  gathered  from  the 
barometer  and  the  appearance  of  the  heavens,  were 
any  thing  but  favorable. 

The  second  cutter  of  the  Josephine  was  hoisted  out 
with  its  crew  on  board.  The  fact  that  the  adult  boat- 
swain was  sent  in  the  boat,  in  addition  to  the  usual 
crew,  seemed  to  indicate  that  Mr.  Fluxion  would  not 
send  the  boat  unless  he  considered  the  occasion  an 
emergency.  It  was  probable  that  one  of  the  students 


YOUNG  AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  51 

in  the  vessel  was  very  sick,  and  that  Mr.  Fluxion 
believed  the  weather  was  better  now  than  it  was  likely 
to  be  for  some  hours  to  come. 

The  cutter  from  the  Josephine  cast  off  from  the 
schooner.  The  young  oarsmen  gave  way  with  a  will, 
and  the  boat  began  to  rise  and  to  plunge  into  the 
heavy  sea.  The  two  vessels  were  not  more  than  a 
couple  of  cable-lengths  apart;  but  the  passage  from 
one  to  the  other  occupied  a  considerable  time. 

The  officer  of  the  cutter  skilfully  brought  his  boat 
under  the  lee  of  the  Tritonia.  It  was  a  perilous  posi- 
tion, and  it  was  in  great  danger  of  being  dashed  to 
pieces  against  the  counter  of  the  vessel.  A  rope  was 
thrown  to  the  bowman,  who  promptly  secured  it,  and 
made  it  fast  by  catching  a  turn  over  the  fore  thwart. 

The  first  master  of  the  Josephine,  who  was  in  charge 
of  the  cutter,  was  a  lithe  little  fellow ;  and,  taking  to 
the  rope  as  a  cat  runs  up  a  tree,  he  climbed  to  the  deck 
'of  the  Tritonia  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye. 

"  That  was  well  done,  Mr.  Pepper,"  said  Mr.  Pelham 
when  the  little  officer  stood  before  him,  drenched  to 
the  skin  by  the  seas  that  had  broken  over  him.  "  You 
want  chlorodyne." 

"  Yes,  sir  :  we  had  a  large  bottle  of  it,  but  the  stew- 
ard dropped  it  on  the  floor  of  the  steerage,  and  spilled 
the  whole  of  it,"  replied  Mr.  Pepper.  "  Boyle  is  very 
sick  with  colic,  or  something  of  that  sort;  and  Mr. 
Fluxion  has  no  proper  medicine  for  him." 

"  I  shall  go  on  board  of  the  Josephine  with  you ; 
and  I  have  the  bottle  in  my  pocket,"  added  the  junior 
vice-principal,  as  he  slid  down  the  rope  into  the  Jose- 
phine's cutter. 


52  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

Mr.  Pepper  followed  him,  and  the  boat  pulled  back. 
As  it  was  evident  that  she  must  return  to  the  Tritonia, 
she  was  brought  up  under  the  counter  of  the  Josephine. 
Mr.  Pelham  was  the  first  to  board  the  vessel. 

"  I  am  surprised  that  you  should  leave  your  charge, 
Pelham,"  said  the  senior  vice-principal  anxiously,  and 
in  a  low  tone,  as  his  junior  presented  himself  on  the 
deck. 

It  took  Mr.  Pelham  five  minutes  to  tell  the  story  of 
Tom  Speers  as  briefly  as  it  could  be  told. 

"  Never  mind  Speers  or  his  letters,"  said  Mr.  Flux- 
ion impatiently.  "  Return  to  the  Tritonia  at  once  !  " 

It  was  too  late.  A  fearful  squall  was  driving  down 
upon  the  two  vessels. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  53 


CHAPTER  IV. 

A  VESSEL    IN   DISTRESS. 

MR.  PELHAM  saw  that  he  had  made  a  mistake 
in  leaving  the  Tritonia  at  such  a  time,  though  he 
would  not  have  thought  of  doing  so  if  the  senior  vice- 
principal  had  not  sent  the  boat.  But  it  was  a  case  of 
severe  sickness  which  had  induced  his  superior  to  send 
out  a  boat  in  such  a  sea.  The  squall,  which  might 
prove  to  be  a  hurricane,  was  already  roaring  in  the 
distance.  In  a  moment  more  it  would  break  upon 
the  vessels. 

"  Get  your  boat  in  quick  !  "  said  Mr.  Fluxion  to  the 
officer  of  the  deck,  in  sharp  tones,  though  not  loud 
enough  to  be  heard  by  the  seamen.  "  Call  all  hands !  " 

At  the  same  moment  the  senior  vice-principal  seized 
the  speaking-trumpet  in  the  hands  of  the  officer  of  the 
deck,  and,  leaping  into  the  main  rigging,  shouted,  — 

"  Fill  away  !  fill  away  !  " 

Whether,  in  the  roar  of  the  tempest,  the  officer  in 
charge  of  the  Tritonia  heard  him  or  not,  the  vessel 
immediately  filled  away.  O'Harawas  too  good  a  sailor 
to  be  caught  napping  at  such  a  time.  He  had  sent  for 
the  captain  as  soon  as  he  saw  the  squall  coming ;  and, 
as  this  was  a  case  of  emergency  in  which  the  officer 


54  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  j    OR, 

of  the  deck  was  authorized  to  act  without  waiting  for 
orders,  he  had  braced  up  the  fore-yards  on  his  own 
responsibility. 

Capt.  Wainwright  came  on  deck  before  the  schooner 
was  fairly  under  way  again.  All  hands  were  called,  the 
lessons  of  the  professors  in  the  steerage  were  promptly 
abandoned,  and  almost  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye  the 
canvas  was  reduced  to  a  storm  staysail. 

The  Josephine  had  a  bigger  problem  to  solve :  the 
officer  of  the  deck  sent  for  Capt.  Vroome,  but,  without 
waiting  for  his  coming,  ordered  the  cutter  to  be  hauled 
under  the  lee  of  the  schooner ;  and  it  was  hoisted  up 
at  the  davits,  carefully  secured,  and  swung  inboard. 

As  soon  as  the  boat  was  clear  of  the  water,  the  fore- 
braces  were  manned,  and  the  yards  trimmed,  the  vessel 
filling  away  as  this  was  done.  The  orders  came  very 
rapidly  from  the  first  lieutenant  for  a  moment;  but 
they  were  executed  as  fast  as  they  were  given,  and  the 
vessel  was  soon  under  the  same  short  canvas  as  the 
Tritonia. 

The  squall  came  down  upon  the  little  squadron,  and 
the  vessels  reeled  under  it.  But  this  was  one  of  the 
emergencies  which  the  students,  especially  the  officers, 
of  the  academy  squadron,  had  been^ faithfully  trained  to 
meet.  The  ships'  companies  had  executed  the  manoeu- 
vre just  completed,  hundreds  of  times,  in  still  water 
and  at  sea  in  a  fresh  breeze. 

Though  the  fury  of,  the  squall  lasted  but  a  short  time, 
it  was  succeeded  by  a  severe  gale,  which  had  been  suffi- 
ciently prognosticated  by  the  barometer  and  the  aspect 
of  the  heavens.  When  the  first  fierceness  of  the  tem- 
pest had  somewhat  abated,  the  Josephine  set  her  fore- 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  55 

sail,  close  reefed,  and  hoisted  her  jib.  The  wind  still 
came  from  the  north-west,  and  she  resumed  her  course 
for  the  Madeira  Islands. 

Ca.pt.  Wainwright  followed  the  example  of  his  senior ; 
and  the  two  vessels  were  again  standing  on  their 
course,  which  was  still  west,  a  quarter  south.  All  went 
well  till  dark,  though  the  vessels  labored  heavily  in  the 
ugly  sea.  The  captain  of  the  Tritonia  was  somewhat 
anxious  about  his  craft,  as  he  had  no  vice-principal  on" 
board  upon  whom  he  could  lean  if  the  situation  became 
more  trying.  He  walked  the  deck,  keeping  his  gaze 
fixed  to  windward  most  of  the  time. 

Since  the  squall  a  full  watch  had  been  kept  on  duty. 
Scott  was  in  charge  of  the  deck  when  the  darkness, 
deep  and  dense,  settled  down  upon  the  scene.  Even 
with  only  the  jib  and*  the  double-reefed  foresail,  the 
Tritonia  rolled  till  the  water  frequently  came  in  over 
her  high  bulwarks,  while  the  seas  broke  in  heavy  sheets 
over  the  top-gallant  forecastle. 

"  This  will  be  a  nasty  night,  Scott,"  said  the  captain, 
pausing  in  his  walk  on  the  weather  side  of  the  ves- 
sel. . 

"  I  never  saw  any  thing  worse,"  replied  the  second 
lieutenant.  "But  I  think  we  shall  be  able  to  keep 
most  of  the  water  on  the  outside  of  her." 

"  She  is  wetter  on  deck  than  I  ever  saw  her  before," 
added  Capt.  Wainwright. 

"  Or  behind  either." 

"I  am  afraid  we  shall  lose  sight  of  the  Josephine 
before  morning." 

"  If  we  do,  I  suppose,  like  any  other  old  wine-bib- 
bers, we  can  find  our  way  to  Madeira." 


56  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

"  But  I  am  very  sorry  that  Mr.  Pelham  was  unable 
to  return,"  continued  the  captain. 

"  I  think  he  will  feel  worse  about  it  than  any  one 
else,"  answered  Scott. 

"  It  is  for  his  sake  that  I  am  sorry." 

"  I  don't  object  to  a  cruise  on  our  own  account  as 
long  as  we  keep  within  the  strict  line  of  duty." 

"  I  am  not  alarmed,  though  in  such  a  night  as  this  I 
cannot  help  feeling  a  little  anxious  about  the  vessel," 
said  Capt.  Wainwright.  "  I  had  no  idea  that  we  should 
have  such  a  storm  as  this  proves  to  be.  I  don't  see 
the  lights  of  the  Josephine." 

"I  saw  her  starboard  light  within  five  minutes," 
added  Scott,  as  he  peered  through  the  gloom  of  the 
night  in  the  direction  the  consort  had  last  been  seen. 
"  She  can't  be  far  from  us." 

"  I  see  it  now,"  added  the  captain.  "  The  tops  of 
the  waves  shut  it  out  from  our  view  at  times." 

"  Now  we  have  lost  it  again." 

The  Tritonia  rolled  and  pitched  fearfully,  and  of 
course  the  Josephine  was  doing  the  same.  The  night 
was  a  long  and  dismal  one.  Twice  it  became  necessary 
to  call  all  hands  to  lay  the  vessel  to  under  the  storm 
staysail.  Even  the  jib  and  reefed  foresail  were  too 
much  for  her. 

Shortly  after  the  captain  and  second  lieutenant  were 
observing  the  lights  of  the  Josephine,  they  disappeared, 
and  were  not  seen  again.  A  very  heavy  rain  began  to 
pour  down,  and  it  was  thought  that  the  thickness  of  the 
weather  alone  prevented  them  from  seeing  her.  Capt. 
\Vainwright  declared  that  it  was  the  worst  night  he  had 
seen  since  he  had  been  in  the  Tritonia  ;  and  Mr.  Mar- 
Jine  cpnfirmed  his  view  of  the  matter. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  57 

The  morning  broke  dull  and  heavy,  with  a  fierce 
rain-storm  still  battering  against  the  rigging.  The  cap- 
tain had  been  on  deck  about  all  night,  and  had  turned 
in  at  eight  bells  in  the  morning  when  the  watch  was 
changed,  leaving  the  first  lieutenant  in  charge  of  the 
deck. 

"  Heard  a  gun  off  the  port  bow,"  reported  the  look- 
out on  the  top-gallant  forecastle. 

"  Are  you  sure  it  was  a  gun  ? "  asked  Richards,  the 
fourth  master,  to  whom  the  report  was  made. 

"  It  was  a  good  way  off ;  but  I'm  pretty  sure  it  was  a 
gun/'  replied  the  seaman.  "  There  it  is  again !  I  am 
sure  of  it  now." 

Richards  heard  the  gun  himself  this  time,  though  it 
was  only  a  dull  report,  evidently  coming  from  a  great 
distance.  He  reported  it  to  the  officer  of  the  deck. 

"I  haven't  heard  it,"  said  Greenwood. 

"  You  can  hardly  make  out  the  sound  above  the  roar 
and  swash  of  the  sea.  I  heard  it  myself  just  now," 
added  Richards. 

They  listened  attentively  for  some  minutes,  but  with- 
out hearing  the  gun  again.  The  first  lieutenant  con- 
cluded that  the  officer  and  seaman  had  been  mistaken, 
and  he  sent  the  fourth  master  back  to  his  station.  All 
hands  forward  listened  again  for  some  time  ;  but  the 
gun  was  not  heard. 

"  I  was  sure  I  heard  it,"  said  Richards  to  the  second 
master. 

"There  are  so  many  strange  sounds  in  a  storm  like 
this,  that  you  can't  be  sure  of  any  thing,"  replied  Ray- 
mond. "  I  hope  you  didn't  hear  a  gun,  for  it  can  only 
be  a  signal  of  distress  in  such  a  storm." 


58  ISLES   OF  THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

But  Richards  was  piqued  at  the  idea  of  having 
made  a  false  report,  and  he  kept  his  ears  wide  open 
for  the  next  hour.  Once  he  thought  he  heard  the 
sound  again,  but  he  did  not  mention  it,  though  the 
lookout  glanced  at  him  to  indicate  that  he  had  heard 
something. 

It  was  too  thick  and  dark  to  see  any  thing,  even  if 
there  had  been  a  sinking  ship  within  a  cable's  length 
of  the  Tritonia.  Nearly  half  an  hour  later  he  heard 
the  sound  again.  It  was  a  sort  of  dull  and  indistinct 
"  thud,"  which  might  have  been  made  by  a  wave  under 
the  counter  of  the  schooner ;  but  it  came  from  a  dis- 
tance, and  from  the  same  direction  as  before. 

"Gun  on  the  weather-bow,  sir,"  repeated  the  look- 
out; and  this  time  he  spoke  so  confidently  that  the 
fourth  master  deemed  it  his  duty  to  report  again  to  the 
officer  of  the  deck. 

"I  imagined  I  heard  it  myself  this  time,"  replied 
Greenwood,  looking  very  anxious.  "  But  it  might  have 
been  a  gun,  and  it  might  not." 

"  I  think  it  was  a  gun ;  and  I  have  heard  it  several 
times,"  answered  Richards. 

"  I  don't  like  to  call  the  captain,  after  he  has  been 
on  deck  all  night,  for  nothing,"  continued  the  first  lieu- 
tenant, looking  very  much  troubled,  as  he  wiped  the 
spray  from  his  face. 

"  If  it  is  a  gun,  it  can  Only  mean  that  some  vessel  is 
in  distress,"  added  Richards.  "  I  think  we  had  better 
err  on  the  side  of  humanity." 

"  No  doubt  of  it ;  but  we  are  not  running  away  from 
the  direction  you  report  the  sound  as  coming  from." 

"  If  the  vessel  is  disabled,  she  is  drifting  this  way ; 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  59 

and  we  can  hardly  work  to  windward  in  this  weath- 
er." 

"Remain  on  the  quarter-deck,  if  you  please,  Mr. 
Richards,  and  see  if  you  can  make  out  the  gun  again," 
continued  Greenwood. 

"  I  hardly  expect  to  hear  it  again  for  half  an  hour ; 
for  it  is  that  time  since  I  heard  it  last,"  said  Richards, 
as  he  climbed  into  the  weather  main  rigging. 

Greenwood  continued  to  walk  the  deck  along  the 
life  line,  which  had  been  extended  fore  and  aft  for  the 
safety  of  the  officers  and  seamen  on  duty.  As  the 
fourth  master  had  suggested,  the  sound  was  not  heard 
again  till  nearly  another  half-hour  had  elapsed.  Then 
it  was  heard,  and  so  distinctly  that  Richards  thought 
there  could  be  no  mistake  about «t  this  time. 

"I  heard  it  myself,"  said  the  officer  of  the  deck 
when  the  report  was  made  to  him.  "  I  will  thank  you 
to  call  the  captain,  and  inform  him  that  signal-guns 
have  been  heard  on  the  weather-bow." 

Richards  came  down  from  his  perch  in  the  weather 
rigging,  and  went  below.  Wainwright  awoke  from  a 
heavy  slumber  at  the  knock  on  his  door ;  but  he  was 
himself  at  once,  and  inquired  carefully  into  the  matter 
of  the  report  till  he  had  satisfied  himself  that  guns  had 
really  been  heard.  Hastily  putting  on  his  pea-jacket, 
he  went  on  deck. 

All  hands  gazed  earnestly  at  him  as  he  appeared, 
and  watched  his  movements  with  intense  interest. 
The  vice-principal  was  not  on  board,  and  Capt.  Wain- 
wright was  the  supreme  authority.  Mr.  Primback,  the 
senior  professor,  who  was  nominally  the  head  of  the 
institution  in  the  absence  of  the  vice-principal,  knew 


60  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

no  more  about  a  ship,  or  about  nautical  matters,  than 
a  man  that  had  never  seen  the  ocean.  The  adult  boat- 
swain and  carpenter  were  seamen,  and  were  competent 
advisers  ;  but  they  were  without  authority  in  the  absence 
of  Mr.  Pelham. 

While  Capt.  Wainwright  was  inquiring  into  the  situa- 
tion, the  signal-gun  was  repeated;  and  this  time  it 
could  be  plainly  heard  by  all  on  deck.  It  was  more 
nearly  on  the  beam  than  before.  The  Tritonia  was 
on  her  course.  The  wind,  which  had  been  rather  vari- 
able during  the  night,  was  now  from  the  north,  veer- 
ing to  the  west.  The  vessel  in  distress  was  therefore 
almost  dead  to  windward. 

"  Brace  her  sharp  up,  Mr.  Greenwood,"  said  the  cap- 
tain, as  soon  as  he  hack  fully  taken  in  the  situation. 

The  first  lieutenant  gave  the  necessary  orders  in 
detail  to  carry  out  the  command  of  the  captain.  The 
Tritonia  promptly  answered  her  helm,  and,  coming 
up  into  the  wind,  rose  upon  the  tremendous,  sea,  and 
then  darted  down  into  the  trough,  while  the  crest  of 
the  wave  broke  upon  her  top-gallant  forecastle. 

"  We  can't  make  much  beating  to  windward  under  a 
double-reefed  foresail,  in  such  a  sea  as  this,"  said 
Greenwood. 

"I  am  afraid  not,"  replied  the  captain,  as  he  re- 
turned to  the  cabin  to  inform  the  senior  professor  of 
the  action  he  had  taken. 

"  How  do  you  know  it  is  a  ship  in  distress  ?  "  asked 
Mr.  Primback,  greatly  disturbed  by  the  announcement. 

"  Ships  at  sea  don't  fire  guns  for  nothing  in  such  a 
sea  as  this,"  answered  Wainwright. 

"  It  may  be  an  engagement  between  a  French  and  a 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  6 1 

German  vessel ;  for  France  and  Germany  are  unhap- 
pily at  war  with  each  other  at  this  time,"  suggested  the 
professor. 

"  I  think  not,  sir ;  for  vessels  in  action  would  be 
likely  to  fire  oftener  than  once  in  half  an  hour,"  re- 
plied the  captain. 

"  Very  true :  I  think  they  would  be  likely  to  dis- 
charge their  guns  more  frequently  than  this/'  added 
Mr.  Primback,  looking  wise.  "  You  feel  confident  that 
the  guns  are  from  a  ship  in  distress  ?  " 

"  I  feel  reasonably  sure  of  it,  sir." 

"  Then  I  suppose  it  is  quite  proper  to  go  to  her  as- 
sistance," said  the  professor,  with  an  inquiring  look  at 
the  young  commander. 

"  Entirely  proper,  Mr.  Primback." 

"  I  am  sorry  that  some  other  vessel  does  not  have 
this  duty  imposed  upon  it.  Nevertheless,  as  the  sea 
is  very  stormy,  and  the  violence  of  the  motion  does  not 
permit  the  conducting  of  Ujie  regular  recitations,  I  dare 
.say  that  no  great  loss  of  time  will  result  from  this  de- 
viation from  the  true  course  of  the  vessel." 

"  I  should  say  not,  sir,"  added  the  captain. 

"Have  you  consulted  with  Mr.  Marline,  in  the  unfor- 
tunate absence  at  this  time  of  Mr.  Pelham  ?  " 

"  I  have  not  done  so,  sir.  Mr.  Marline  turned  in, 
and"  — 

"  Did  what  ?  Do  me  the  favor  to  speak  the  English 
language  when  you  address  me,"  interposed  the  pro- 
fessor, who  could  not  tolerate  even  the  mildest  of  nau- 
tical terms. 

"  He  went  to  bed,  sir." 

"  Ah,  he  retired  ? " 


62  ISLES   OF  THE   SEA  j    OR, 

"  Yes,  sir :  he  turned  in  when  "  — 

"  Retired,  if  you  please." 

"  Yes,  sir :  he  retired  from  the  deck  when  I  did ;  and 
I  have  not  seen  him  since  the  signal-guns  were  reported 
to  me." 

"  Mr.  Marline  is  a  prudent  mariner ;  and  I  request 
that  you  confer  with  him  before  any  decided  steps  are 
taken." 

"  But  I  have  taken  the  decided  step  already ;  for  I 
have  hauled  her  up  "  — 

"  How  can  that  be  when  the  vessel  is  far  out  of  sight 
of  the  land  ?  You  speak  in  enigmas,"  interrupted  Mr. 
Primback. 

" We  braced  her  up"  — 

"  In  English,  sir,"  said  the  professor  rather  sternly. 

"  I  don't  know  that  I  can  describe  nautical  manoeu- 
vres in  any  other  than  nautical  language,"  said  Wain- 
wright.  "We  were  going  with  the  wind  free  before, 
sir"—  0 

"The  wind  is  always  free,  Wainwright :  no  one  can, 
control  it." 

"Well,  sir,  I  caused  the  schooner  to  be  turned  so 
that  she  is  headed  as  near  as  she  can  go  in  the  direc- 
tion from  which  the  wind  comes." 

"  That  is  quite  intelligible.     I  thank  you." 

"  The  vessel  is  now  headed  as  near  as  can  be  to- 
wards the  ship  in  distress.  If  you  wish  me  to  speak 
to  Mr.  Marline  I  will  do  so,  sir ;  but  I  think  it  is  bet- 
ter to  let  him  sleep,  after  being  on  deck  as  he  was  all 
night." 

"  He  must  be  somewhat  fatigued  j  and  you  may  wait 
till  he  gets  up  from  his  bed." 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  63 

Wainwright  withdrew  from  the  cabin  of  the  processor, 
and  went  on  deck  again.  It  was  still  too  thick  to  make 
out  the  vessel  in  distress ;  and,  when  he  had  directed 
the  first  lieutenant  to  call  him  if  occasion  should  re- 
quire, he  went  to  his  state-room  to  obtain  the  rest  he 
needed. 

The  guns  were  repeated  every  half-hour  as  before ; 
and  it  was  evident  that  the  two  vessels  were  coming 
nearer  together.  The  rain  had  ceased,  but  a  thick  fog 
had  settled  down  upon  the  ocean,  and  concealed  the 
two  craft  from  each  other.  But  the  captain  could  not 
sleep,  weary  as  he  was',  in  his  anxiety  about  the  wreck 
to  windward  of  the  Tritonia.  He  went  on  deck.  The 
gun  sounded  as  though  the  vessel  in  distress  was  not 
more  than  a  mile  distant. 

There  was  no  gun  on  board  of  the  schooner,  or  he 
would  have  used  it  to  inform  the  sufferers  that  assist- 
ance was  at  hand. 

The  Tritonia  had  tacked  several  times  in  the  heavy 
sea ;  and,  after  the  captain  came  on  deck  the  second 
time,  he  had  ordered  the  addition  of  a  close-reefed 
mainsail  to  the  vessel,  for  the  wind  seemed  to  have 
abated  a  trifle. 

"  I  see  her ! "  shouted  the  lookout  forward. 

"  Where  away  ? "  demanded  the  fourth  master,  spring- 
ing upon  the  rail  of  the  vessel,  ready  to  get  into  the 
fore-rigging. 

"  Sharp  on  the  weather-bow." 

"  I  see  her,"  added  Richards,  as  he  made  out  the 
dim  outline  of  the  craft  in  the  fog,  which  had  lifted  a 
little  as  if  to  reveal  the  presence  of  the  sufferer. 

"She  is  a    steamer!"    shouted    Richards,   as    he 


64  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

jumped  down  upon  the  deck,  and  hurried  aft  as  rapidly 
as  the  uneasy  motion  of  the  Tritonia  would  permit 

He  reported  to  the  first  lieutenant  the  position  of  the 
steamer ;  and  immediately  all  the  officers  leaped  upon 
the  rail,  and  looked  intently  to  windward  to  obtain  a 
view  of  her. 

"  What  do  you  make  of  her,  Mr.  Greenwood  ? " 
asked  Capt.  Wainwright,  who  was  of  course  too  dig- 
nified to  leave  the  quarter-deck. 

"  She  is  a  steamer,  barkentine  rig.  She  is  heeled 
over  to  port,  with  her  stern  settled  deep  in  the  water," 
replied  the  first  lieutenant. 

"  Down  from  the  rail ! "  shouted  the  captain. 

The  order  was  repeated  by  the  officer  of  the  deck, 
and  the  momentary  panic  caused  by  the  appearance  of 
the  wreck  gave  place  to  the  usual  order  on  board  of  the 
schooner.  The  captain  sent  the  fourth  master  to  call 
Marline  ;  and  this  old  salt  was  greatly  surprised  when 
he  learned  what  had  been  done  while  he  slept. 

"  How  do  we  happen  to  be  headed  to  the  nor'ard, 
captain  ? "  asked  he,  after  he  had  glanced  at  the  com- 
pass. 

"We  have  been  working  to  windward  for  the  last  four 
hours  in  search  of  this  vessel,  for  we  heard  her  signal- 
guns  at  two  bells  in  the  morning  watch,"  replied  the 
captain,  with  a  smile  at  the  blank  look  of  astonishment 
on  the  face  of  the  boatswain.  "Mr.  Primback  de- 
sired me  to  confer  with  you  as  soon  as  you  came  on 
deck." 

"  Why  was  I  not  called  before  ?  " 

"  I  thought  it  best  not  to  disturb  you  after  you  had 
been  all  night  on  deck." 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  65 

"  And  you  were  on  deck  all  night  also." 

"  I  was  ;  but  I  was  called  at  two  bells.  I  propose 
to  lie  to  under  the  lee  of  the  steamer,  and  send  a  boat 
on  board  of  her  as  soon  as  practicable,"  continued  the 
captain.  "  What  do  you  think  of  that  idea  ?  " 

"I  don't  think  much  of  it,"  replied  the  old  sailor 
bluntly.  "  Do  you  think  of  sending  a  boat  on  board 
of  the  wreck  at  once  ? " 

"  Do  you  think  it  is  safe  to  get  out  a  boat  ? " 

"  I  don't  think  it  is  safe  ;  and  for  that  reason  I 
shouldn't  lay  her  to." 

"What  would  you  do?"  asked  Capt  Wainwright, 
rather  nettled  by  the  disapproval  of  the  boatswain. 

"  I  should  run  as  near  the  wreck  as  possible,  hail 
them,  and  say  we  will  stand  by  them  ;  then  stand  off 
and  on  till  the  weather  moderates  a  little.  A  boat 
might  live  now ;  but  the  steamer  floats,  and  don't 
seem  to  be  in  any  immediate  danger  of  going  down," 
said  Mr.  Marline,  when  he  had  examined  the  condition 
of  the  wreck  as  well  as  he  could  in  the  fog. 

"  I  like  that  plan,"  replied  the  captain ;  "  but  I 
thought  we  might  be  able  to  reach  the  wreck  in  a 
boat," 

"  If  there  was  any  need  of  it,  we  might,"  added  the 
boatswain,  now  getting  a  better  view  of  the  steamer. 
"  She  has  a  hole  in  her  starboard  bow ;  she  has  been 
run  into  by  another  vessel.  I  think  the  water  poured 
into  that  hole  in  the  beginning,  flowed  aft,  and  settled 
her  down  by  the  stern  so  as  to  lift  the  opening  out  of 
the  water.  That  is  what  saved  her.  It  was  a  miracle." 

The  Tritonia  tacked  again,  and  then  stood  under  the 
stern  of  the  wreck.  Only  one  man,  whose  gray  locks 


66  ISLES    OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

were  streaming  in  the  fresh  wind,  could  be  seen  on 
board  of  her. 

"  We  will  stand  by  you ! "  shouted  Greenwood 
through  the  trumpet,  as  the  Tritonia  passed  within  a 
few  fathoms  of  the  steamer. 

"  Two  ladies  on  board  ! "  yelled  the  man  in  response 
to  the  hail. 

"  We  will  save  them !  "  replied  Greenwood. 

The  Tritonia  passed  out  of  hailing  distance. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  67 


CHAPTER  V, 

BOARDING   THE   WRECK. 

"  rT^HERE  seems  to  be  but  one  man  on  board  the 

X  wreck,"  said  Wainwright,  when  the  Tritonia 
had  passed  out  of  hailing  distance. 

"  And  he  says  there  are  two  women  on  board,"  added 
Marline.  "  It  seems  to  me  that  I  have  heard  that 
man's  voice  before." 

"  He  speaks  plain  English,  at  any  rate,"  continued 
the  captain.  "  Have  you  any  idea  what  has  become  of 
the  Josephine*  Mr.  Marline  ?  " 

"  It  was  easy  enough  to  lose  her  in  such  a  night  as 
the  last.  She  may  have  carried  sail  while  we  were 
laying  to,  or  we  may  have  carried  sail  while  she  was 
doing  so.  She  may  have  been  within  a  few  miles  of 
us  when  we  changed  our  course  to  the  nor'ard." 

"  But,  if  she  had  been  anywhere  near  us,  she  would 
have  heard  the  guns  on  this  steamer,"  suggested  Wain- 
wright. 

"  I  think  we  shall  have  a  change  of  weather  soon, 
and  we  shall  find  out  where  she  is." 

"The  barometer  is  rising;  and  I  am  confident,  if 
the  Josephine's  people  heard  those  guns,  she  will 


68  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

follow  them  up,  and  we  shall  see  her  in  the  course  of 
the  forenoon." 

"  No  doubt  of  it,"  replied  Marline.  "The  fog  is  lift- 
ing now." 

"  The  steamer  seems  to  be  in  no  danger  of  sinking," 
added  Wainwright,  as  he  brought  his  glass  to  bear  upon 
her.  "  Her  stern  is  well  down  in  the  water,  but  her 
bow  is  clear  up  in  the  air." 

"She  won't  go  down  unless  the  weather  gets  worse. 
It  is  moderating  very  rapidly." 

"  What  can  we  do  with  the  steamer  after  we  get  on 
board  of  her  ? "  asked  the  captain,  who  had  been  con- 
sidering this  question  since  the  wreck  was  first  dis- 
covered. 

"  I  don't  know  that  we  can  do  any  thing  but  save  the 
passengers,"  replied  Marline. 

"  But  the  vessel  seems  to  be  in  good  condition ;  and 
it  may  be  possible  to  take  her  into  port." 

"  It  may  be ;  but  I  think  we  have  not  force  enough  to 
handle  her,  if  the  crew  have  deserted  her." 

"  If  we  save  her,  won't  she  belong  to  us  ? "  inquired 
Wainwright,  who  had  been  a  seaman  on  the  Josephine 
when  she  picked  up  a  Dutch  vessel  in  the  North  Sea, 
in  a  sinking  condition. 

"  No ;  but  the  judges  of  the  Marine  Court,  or  what- 
ever they  call  it  over  here,  decide  what  part  of  the 
value  of  the  vessel  shall  be  given  to  those  that  save 
her." 

"  It  is  a  case  of  salvage,  then.  I  didn't  know  but  the 
vessel,  if  she  had  been  wholly  abandoned,  might  go  to 
those  who  picked  her  up." 

"  I  am  no  sea-lawyer,  and  I  don't  know  much  about 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  69 

it ;  but  my  notion  is,  that  if  the  owners  claim  her,  they 
take  her  by  paying  the  salvage  decreed  by  the  court. 
I  am  sorry  Mr.  Pelham  is  not  here  to  settle  all  the 
questions  that  may  come  up  concerning  this  steamer." 

"  I  think  we  shall  be  able  to  settle  them  somehow  or 
other,"  replied  Wainwright  confidently.  "  It  would  be 
a  big  thing  for  the  Tritonia  to  send  that  vessel  into 
port." 

"  So  it  would ;  but  it  will  be  a  bigger  thing  to  save 
the  passengers  on  board  of  her.  Though  we  see  but 
one  man  on  board  of  her,  there  may  be  a  dozen  or 
twenty,"  added  Marline. 

"  What  are  they  about,  if  there  are  any  others  in 
her  ?  " 

"  That's  more  than  I  know  ;  but  men  lose  their  heads 
in  times  of  trouble.  The  crew  may  have  broken  into 
the  rum-barrels,  and  got  drunk.  A  crew  is  very  likely 
to  do  such  a  thing  after  the  discipline  of  the  vessel  is 
lost." 

"  Do  you  suppose  that  is  the  case  ? " 

"  I  don't  suppose  any  thing  about  it :  I  have  known 
just  such  things  to  happen,"  answered  Marline,  who 
evidently  did  not  care  to  continue  the  conversation,  for 
he  did  not  wish  to  commit  himself  to  any  thing. 

The  sea  was  still  too  heavy,  when  the  port  watch  came 
on  duty  at  eight  o'clock,  to  allow  any  recitation  to  be 
conducted  in  the  steerage.  Professor  Primback,  with 
his  supreme  contempt  for  all  things  nautical,  was  un- 
able to  keep  on  his  legs,  and  was  therefore  incompe- 
tent to  sustain  the  dignity  of  his  position.  He  knew 
that  the  students  would  laugh  if  a  smart  sea  should 
upset  him,  or  cause  him  to  reel,  during  his  demonstra- 


70  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

tion  at  the  blackboard  ;  and  he  was  unwilling  to  tempt 
them.  For  this  reason  it  was  usually  vacation  time  in 
very  stormy  weather.  The  seamen  not  on  duty  were 
reclining  in  their  berths,  or  wedged  into  various  corners 
where  they  could  save  themselves  from  being  pitched 
about  by  the  savage  plunging  of  the  vessel.  Every 
movable  thing  had  been  secured  by  the  stewards,  for 
neither  tables  nor  stools  would  stay  upon  their  legs. 

Professor  Primback  was  very  nervous  and  uneasy  in 
the  absence  of  the  vice-principal ;  for  he  did  not  place 
any  great  confidence  in  the  good  judgment  and  discre- 
tion of  the  young  officers  of  the  vessel.  He  perversely 
refused  to  inform  himself  in  regard  to  seamanship  and 
maritime  custom  and  law ;  and  he  was  no  better  than  a 
child  outside  of  the -duties  of  an  instructor.  He  re- 
mained in  his  berth  till  after  nine  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing, because  he  would  not  trust  himself  to  the  uneasy 
deck.  But  he  was  not  satisfied  with  the  action  of  the 
young  commander,  even  after  the  latter  had  consulted 
with  Mr.  Marline. 

After  he  had  carefully  considered  the  situation  with- 
out being  able  to  reach  any  conclusion,  he  decided  to 
go  on  deck,  —  if  he  could  get  there,  —  and  examine  for 
himself  into  the  condition  of  affairs.  He  got  out  of  his 
berth  with  no  little  difficulty,  and  by  sundry  darts  and 
plunges  reached  the  companion-way.  While  he  had  the 
baluster  under  his  hand  he  did  very  well,  and  succeed- 
ed in  reaching  the  quarter-deck  without  any  disaster. 

Seeing  Capt.  Wainwright  on  the  weather  side,  he 
waited  a  moment  till  the  vessel  was  on  an  even  keel,  and 
then  started  for  him.  If  he  had  known  any  thing  about 
the  motions  of  a  ship,  or  had  understood  the  meaning 


YOUNG    AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  7 1 

of  the  order  given,  "  Ready  about,"  as  he  appeared  at 
the  companion-way,  he  would  not  have  undertaken  the 
feat  of  crossing  the  deck  at  that  particular  moment. 

"  Hard  down  the  helm  !  "  shouted  Scott,  the  second 
lieutenant,  who  was  then  in  charge  of  the  deck. 

The  Tritonia  threw  her  head  up  into  the  wind  as  the 
hands  at  the  wheel  obeyed  the  order.  As  she  fell  off 
she  met  a  tremendous  wave,  which  broke  over  the  top- 
gallant forecastle,  and,  as  the  bow  of  the  vessel  rose 
upon  the  sea,  sent  tons  of  water  rolling  along  the  lee 
side  of  the  deck.  The  officers  and  seamen,  as  taught 
to  do  by  experience,  seized  the  life-lines,  and  held  on 
for  a  moment  till  the  water  had  poured  out  through  the 
scuppers.  But  Mr.  Primback  was  either  too  ignorant 
or  too  dignified  to  depend  upon  any  support  but  his 
legs,  and  was  knocked  from  his  feet,  and  carried  over 
to  leeward.  Mr.  Marline  and  some  others  had  warned 
him  in  season  of  his  danger  ;  but  unfortunately  they 
used  sea-slang  in  doing  so,  and  the  professor  did  not 
comprehend  the  warning. 

The  boatswain  sprang  to  his  assistance,  and  picked 
him  up.  He  conducted  him  to  one  of  the  life-lines, 
where  he  was  content  to  hold  on.  The  foresail  and 
the  mainsail  went  over,  and  as  soon  as  they  filled  the 
motion  of  the  schooner  was  easier. 

"  What  do  you  mean,  sir  ?  "  demanded  the  professor 
angrily,  as  Scott  passed  by  him  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duty. 

"  I  don't  mean  any  thing,  sir,"  replied  the  joker 
demurely,  and  was  about  to  continue  on  his  way  to  the 
waist. 

"  Stop,  sir  !     What  do  you  mean  by  playing  a  trick 


72  ISLES   OF    THE   SEA  j    OR, 

upon  me  when  I  come  on  deck  ?  "  foamed  the  worthy 
instructor. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  sir,  if  I  have  clone  any  thing 
wrong,"  added  Scott,  shrugging  his  shoulders  like  a 
Frenchman.  "  I  did  not  mean  to  do  any  thing  out  of 
the  way." 

"You  tipped  the  ship  so  as  to  throw  me  down," 
added  the  irate  professor. 

"  I  didn't  tip  the  ship,  sir." 

"  You  gave  the  order  to  have  it  done,  as  soon  as 
you  saw  me  come  on  deck." 

"  The  captain  ordered  me  to  tack  ship,  and  I  gave 
the  order  to  the  watch  on  deck,  sir.  I  only  did  what 
the  captain  told  me  to  do." 

"  This  isn't  the  first  time  you  have  played  such  a 
trick  upon  me,"  continued  Mr.  Primback,  who  honestly 
believed  that  Scott  was  the  author  of  his  misfortune. 

The  professor  considered  that  any  person  who  was 
capable  of  making  a  joke  would  not  scruple  to  do  a 
wicked  deed ;  and  for  this  reason  Scott  was  not  a 
favorite  with  the  professor. 

"I  never  played  a  trick  upon  you  in  my  life,  sir," 
pleaded  the  second  lieutenant,  with  his  cheerful  smile. 

"  Don't  contradict  me,  Scott !  "  said  Mr.  Primback, 
waxing  more  indignant  as  he  saw  the  smile.  "  I  will 
report  you  for  discipline  to  the  vice-principal  as  soon 
as  he  returns." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  Mr.  Primback,"  interposed  the 
captain,  "  but  I  do  not  think  Mr.  Scott  was  to  blame." 

"  I  did  not  ask  your  opinion,  Wainwright :  I  hold 
Mr.  Scott  responsible  for  his  own  acts,"  snapped  the 
professor. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  73 

"  He  only  obeyed  the  order  I  gave  him  to  tack  ship, 
and  it  was  not  his  fault  that  she  made  a  lee  lurch." 

"  You  will  use  none  of  that  gibberish  to  me  !  And  I 
will  tolerate  no  interference  when  I  speak  to  a  stu- 
dent." 

"  I  only  desired  to  explain,  sir,"  added  the  captain, 
with  the  utmost  deference  and  respect. 

"  Then  do  it  in  English." 

"  When  the  vessel  turned  so  that  the  wind  did  not 
press  upon  the  sails,  the  heavy  waves  caused  her  to 
roll  and  pitch  violently,"  continued  the  captain. 

"  And  Scott  turned  the  vessel  just  as  he  saw  me 
come  on  deck." 

"  I  gave  him  the  order  to  turn  her." 

"  He  could  have  waited  a  moment  till  I  had  reached 
a  secure  position.  He  has  been  guilty  of  disrespect  to 
the  senior  professor  of  the  vessel.  —  Scott,  you  will  go 
down  into  the  cabin,  and  settle  this  case  with  me,"  con- 
tinued Mr.  Primback,  who  was  certainly  more  irritable 
than  usual. 

Wainwright  was  confounded  by  this  order.  It  was 
plain  that  the  professor  had  forgotten  the  regulation  of 
the  principal,  which  ought  to  have  governed  him  in 
the  present  emergency.  In  the  absence  of  the  vice- 
principal,  he  had  no  control  whatever  over  the  captain 
in  regard  to  the  management  of  the  vessel.  He  was 
taking  the  course  pursued  by  another  professor  in  the 
squadron,  who  had  been  sent  home  for  interfering  with 
the  discipline  of  the  ship. 

"  Mr.  Scott  is  the  officer  of  the  deck,  sir,"  said  the 
captain,  greatly  embarrassed  by  the  situation. 

"  I  don't  care  if  he  is  :   he  will  obey  my  order,  or  I 


74  ISLES    OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

will  suspend  him  from  duty,"  replied  Mr.  Primback 
stoutly. 

"  You  will  excuse  me,  sir,  if  I  call  your  attention  to 
the  regulation  bearing  upon  this  case,"  continued  the 
captain. 

"  Is  my  order  to  be  obeyed,  or  not  ?  "  demanded  the 
professor. 

"I  hope  you  will  revoke  the  order  till  you  have 
looked  at  the  regulations,  sir." 

"  This  is  insolence,  Wainwright.  I  am  the  acting 
vice-principal  of  this  vessel  in  the  absence  of  Mr.  Pel- 
ham.  I  stand  in  his  place ;  and  he  is  authorized  to 
suspend  an  officer  for  cause." 

"  If  you  will  be  kind  enough  to  read  the  regulations, 
I  think  you  will  see  that  you  are  mistaken,"  added  the 
captain  in  a  low  tone. 

"  I  am  not  mistaken,"  persisted  the  professor. 

"We  shall  have  to  tack  again  in  a  moment,  Mr. 
Primback ;  and  the  vessel  will  roll  and  pitch  as  badly 
as  before." 

"I  think  you  had  better  go  below,  sir,"  said  Mr. 
Marline,  coming  up  to  the  professor  at  this  moment, 
hoping  to  make  an  end  of  the  disagreeable  controversy. 
"  The  sea  is  very  heavy,  and  she  may  roll  herself  full  of 
water  up  to  the  rail." 

"  Mr.  Marline,  you  will  see  that  Scott  obeys  my  or- 
der," replied  Mr.  Primback,  creeping  along  the  life-line 
towards  the  companion-way. 

The  boatswain  made  no  reply,  but  took  the  arm  of 
the  "  philosopher,"  as  he  insisted  upon  calling  all  the 
professors,  and  helped  him  down  the  steps.  He  de- 
posited him  on  a  sofa  where  he  could  preserve  his 


YOUNG    AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  75 

equilibrium.  The  learned  gentleman  was  very  glad  to 
be  in  a  safe  position  again  ;  but  he  could  not  forget  the 
fancied  injury  to  which  he  had  been  subjected. 

"  I  ordered  Scott  to  come  into  the  cabin,  and  settle 
his  case  with  me,  Mr.  Marline.  He  hasn't  come  yet," 
said  the  professor,  wiping  the  salt  spray  from  his  face. 

"I  beg  your  .honor's  pardon,  but  you  are  all  wrong 
in  this  matter,"  replied  Marline  bluntly,  for  he  saw  that 
nothing  but  plain  speech  would  answer  his  purpose. 

At  the  same  time  he  took  from  his  pocket  a  copy  of 
the  regulations  which  had  been  printed  on  board  of  the 
Young  America,  and  slowly  unfolded  the  document. 

"  How  can  I  be  all  wrong,  when,  in  the  absence  of 
the  vice-principal,  I  am  in  his  place,  and  my  authority 
is  supreme  ? "  asked  the  professor  in  great  astonishment. 

"  Your  honor  is  no  sailor." 

"  I  thank  the  stars  that  I  am  not." 

"  The  regulations  say  that  you  cannot  interfere  with 
the  management  of  the  vessel,  or  with  the  officers  and 
seamen  in  the  discharge  of  their  duty.  If  the  vice- 
principal  is  not  on  board,  the  professors  can't  meddle 
•with  the  navigation  of  the  ship.  That's  the  law;  and 
all  we  have  to  do  is  to  obey  it." 

Mr.  Primback  took  the  regulations,  adjusted  his 
glasses,  and  proceeded  to  read  the  articles  relating  to 
his  own  duties.  The  boatswain  was  right ;  but  the  pro- 
fessor was  unwilling  to  admit  the  fact. 

"  Am  I  placed  at  the  mercy  of  these  boys  ?  "  de- 
manded Mr.  Primback,  as  he  removed  his  glasses,  and 
looked  at  the  boatswain. 

"  So  far  as  handling  the  vessel  is  concerned,  I  don't 
see  that  you  have  any  thing  to  do  with  them." 


76  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  j    OR, 

"They  are  my  scholars,  but  they  may  insult  me  if 
they  choose." 

"  But  they  don't  choose  to  do  any  thing  of  the  kind. 
It  was  no  more  Scott's  fault  that  you  were  rolled  into 
the  scuppers,  than  it  was  mine  ;  and  I'm  sure  I  had 
nothing  to  do  with  it,"  added  Marline. 

"  I  don't  believe  it :  the  fellow  laughed  in  my  face 
when  I  spoke  to  him.  If  he  comes  into  the  cabin,  as  I 
directed  him  to  do,  and  makes  a  suitable  apology  for 
his  conduct,  I  will  pass  over  his  offence  as  lightly  as 
possible." 

"  Scott  obeyed  orders,  and  he  couldn't  help  himself." 

"  He  did  not  want  to  help  himself,"  persisted  Mr. 
Primback.  "I  will  resign  my  position  before  I  will 
submit  to  such  treatment." 

Just  then  the  Tritonia  tacked,  and  the  vessel  gave  a 
tremendous  lurch,  as  if  to  illustrate  the  argument  of 
the  boatswain.  The  professor  was  hurled  from  his 
seat,  and  Marline  helped  him  up. 

"  You  don't  think  that  I  did  that,  do  you,  Mr.  Prim- 
back  ?  "  asked  the  old  salt. 

"Of  course  you  did  not.  Have  you  any  control 
over  these  boys,  Mr.  Marline  ? "  inquired  the  professor 
in  a  tone  of  contempt. 

"  None  at  all  in  the  absence  of  the  vice-principal," 
answered  the  boatswain. 

"  Then  they  may  take  us  anywhere,  and  do  what 
they  please  with  us,  if  I  understand  the  situation." 

"  I  suppose  so,  sir." 

"  Then  I  never  comprehended  my  position  before," 
added  the  professor,  with  increasing  disgust. 

"  The  trouble,  if  there  is  any,  is  all  on  account  of 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  f-J 

the  absence  of  the  vice-principal,  who  is  authority  in  all 
matters." 

"  I  had  trouble  enough  with  these  boys  before  he 
came  on  board.  I  supposed  in  his  absence  that  I  took 
his  place." 

"  But  your  honor  is  no  sailor ;  and  you  couldn't 
handle  the  vessel  if  you  tried." 

"  I  have  no  desire  to  handle  the  vessel ;  but,  if  these 
boys  can  insult  me  with  impunity,  it  is  time  for  me  to 
know  it." 

The  conversation,  which  did  not  promise  to  end  in 
any  happy  result,  was  interrupted  by  the  appearance  of 
third  master  Lingall,  who  politely  touched  his  hat,  and 
stood  waiting  to  deliver  his  message. 

"What  do  you  want?"  demanded  Mr.  Primback. 

"  The  captain  desires  to  see  Mr.  Marline  on  deck," 
said  Lingall. 

"  Tell  the  captain  that  Mr.  Marline  is  engaged  with 
me,"  interposed  the  professor  testily. 

"  I  will  report  to  the  captain  myself,"  added  Marline, 
who  was  in  a  better  frame  of  mind  than  the  "  philos- 
opher." 

"Wait  till  I  have  done  with  you." 

"  I  beg  your  honor's  pardon,  but  I  aiways  obey  the 
captain,"  replied  the  boatswain  ;  and  touching  his  hat, 
and  scraping  his  right  foot  across  the  floor,  he  hastened 
on  deck. 

"  Stop  !  "  called  Mr.  Primback.  "  I  have  something 
more  to  say  to  you." 

"  I  will  see  your  honor  as  soon  as  I  can,"  added  the 
boatswain  ;  and  he  ran  up  the  steps. 

Mr.  Marline  could  see  that  the  crofessor  was  very 


78  ISLES    OF    THE    SEA  ;    OR, 

unreasonable,  considering  there  was  a  steamer  in  dis- 
tress depending  upon  the  Tritonia  for  assistance.  He 
touched  his  hat  to  the  captain,  and  waited  for  further 
orders. 

"  What  do  you  think  of  the  sea  now,  Mr.  Marline  ? " 
asked  Wainwright. 

"  It  has  improved  a  good  deal  during  the  last 
hour." 

"  Do  you  think  it  is  prudent  to  get  out  a  boat  ? " 

"  I  think  it  is  as  good  weather  as  we  are  likely  to 
have  for  some  time,"  replied  Marline,  looking  at  the 
sky  and  the  sea. 

"  Then  we  will  board  the  steamer." 

The  captain  gave  the  order  to  call  all  hands  ;  and,  as 
soon  as  the  ship's  company  had  mustered,  the  vessel 
was  heaved  to.  The  second  cutter  was  cleared  away, 
and  her  crew  piped  into  her.  O'Hara  was  detailed  to 
take  charge  of  her ;  and  Mr.  Rimmer,  the  carpenter,  was 
directed  to  go  in  the  boat,  not  only  to  render  any 
assistance  that  might  be  required  in  boarding  the 
steamer,  but  to  examine  into  her  condition. 

The  cutter  was  lowered  into  the  water,  with  the  crew 
in  her,  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Marline.  It  was  no 
easy  task  to  accomplish  this  work  in  the  heavy  sea.  The 
boat  rose  and  fell  on  the  angry  waves ;  but  it  was  so 
well  managed  that  very  little  water  was  taken  in.  Un- 
der the  lee  of  the  drifting  steamer  the  water  was  com- 
paratively smooth.  The  man  who  had  hailed  the 
Tritonia  threw  a  line  to  the  cutter,  which  Mr.  Marline 
secured  to  the  fore-thwart. 

"  Are  we  to  lower  the  ladies  into  the  cutter  ?  "  asked 
O'Hara,  when  the  boat  was  fast  to  the  steamer. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  79 

"  I  can't  say  what's  to  be  done  till  we  have  boarded 
her,"  replied  the  boatswain. 

"  Then  I'll  do  that  same  at  once,"  added  the  fourth 
lieutenant ;  and,  suiting  the  action  to  the  word,  he  ran 
up  the  line  like  a  cat. 

"  Well,  good  gracious !  this  is  one  of  the  academy 
squadron ! "  said  the  man  on  board  of  the  steamer,  as 
O'Hara  leaped  down  from  the  rail.  "  I  thought  so  the 
minute  I  laid  eyes  on  her ;  but,  seeing  her  out  here  all 
alone,  I  gave  up  the  idea  at  once." 

"  Mr.  Frisbone ! "  exclaimed  the  lieutenant,  as  he 
recognized  the  gentleman  who  had  presented  the  Amer- 
ican Prince  to  the  principal  of  the  academy  squadron. 

"  Well,  you  boys  are  smart  sailors ;  and  you  are  an 
honor  to  your  country,"  added  Mr.  Frisbone. 

"  I  thought  you  had  given  up  going  in  any  steamers, 
after  your  experience  in  the  American  Prince." 

"  We  went  to  Liverpool  to  meet  my  wife's  sister,  who 
came  over  here  for  her  health.  The  doctors  said  Ma- 
laga was  the  place  for  her  to  spend  the  winter ;  and  we 
started  for  Spain.  When  I  got  into  France,  I  found 
the  Germans  had  got  almost  over  to  the  sea-shore  ;  and 
we  took  this  steamer  at  Havre  for  Cadiz.  Last  night 
she  was  run  into  by  another  vessel,  and  had  a  hole 
knocked  in  her  bow.  We  were  the  only  passengers  on 
board ;  and  the  crew  jumped  on  board  of  the  other  ves- 
sel as  soon  as  they  found  she  had  a  hole  in  her." 

"  But  didn't  they  try  to  save  you  and  your  wife  ?  " 
asked  O'Hara  indignantly. 

"  Yes,  they  did  ;  but  my  wife  and  her  sister  were 
both  sick  in  their  berths ;  and,  when  I  got  them  out, 
the  crew  had  deserted  her,  and  the  other  vessel  was  out 


8o  ISLES    OF    THE    SEA  ;     OR, 

of  sight  in  the  fog.  The  fact  was,  they  were  so  flurried 
they  didn't  know  what  they  were  about." 

"We  will  take  them  on  board  of  the  Tritonia." 

"  I  don't  believe  we  could  ever  get  them  into  that 
boat,"  added  Mr.  Frisbone,  as  he  glanced  at  the  cutter, 
which  was  almost  swamped  in  every  sea  that  swept  by 
her. 

u  The  steamer  don't  seem  to  be  in  any  present  dan- 
ger of  going  down,"  said  O'Hara. 

"  She  won't  sink  this  time  ;  and,  if  her  crew  had  only 
stuck  by  her,  they  might  have  saved  her." 

"  She  is  not  very  heavily  loaded." 

"  She  has  some  machinery  or  something  of  that  sort 
in  her ;  and  it  must  have  shifted  so  as  to  bring  that 
hole  out  of  the  water.  If  I  had  some  help  I  could 
right  her." 

O'Hara  asked  Mr.  Rimmer  to  come  on  board. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  8l 


CHAPTER  VI. 

A   VOLUNTEER   SHIP'S   COMPANY. 

THE  carpenter  of  the  Tritonia  climbed  up  the 
rope,  and  reached  the  deck  of  the  steamer.  The 
moment  he  saw  Mr.  Frisbone,  he  recognized  him,  and 
saluted  him  with  nautical  politeness. 

"  Mr.  Rimmer,  the  carpenter  of  the  Tritonia,"  said 
O'Hara,  by  way  of  introduction. 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  an  American  seaman  on  board  of 
this  steamer,"  replied  Mr.  Frisbone  heartily.  "  You 
are  the  carpenter  of  the  Tritonia,  and  you  can  soon 
tell  whether,  this  vessel  is  worth  saving." 

"  She  don't  seem  to  be  in  very  bad  condition  with 
the  exception  of  that  hole  in  her  starboard  bow," 
added  Mr.  Rimmer,  as  he  cast  his  eyes  about  him. 

"  I  wish  you  would  look  her  over  ;  and  then  we  can 
decide  what  is  best  to  be  done." 

The  carpenter  began  his  survey  of  the  vessel,  accom- 
panied by  Mr.  Frisbone  and  O'Hara.  They  visited 
every  part  of  her,  examining  very  carefully  into  her 
condition. 

"  I  suppose  I  know  as  much  about  the  engine  as  any- 
body ;  and  I  can  say  that  it  is  in  good  order,"  said  Mr. 
Frisbone,  as  they  passed  the  door  of  the  engine-room. 


82  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

"  I  don't  know  any  thing  about  engines,"  added  the 
carpenter  modestly.  "  But  I  can  say  that  the  vessel  is 
in  first-rate  condition  ;  and  that  hole  in  her  bow  can  be 
stopped  so  that  she  will  live  in  any  sea.  The  opening 
is  above  the  water-line,  so  that  there  will  be  no  great 
pressure  upon  it." 

"  Then  we  can  save  the  vessel,"  replied  the  Ameri- 
can Prince,  as  he  claimed  to  be,  and  as  he  had  named 
his  steam-yacht.  "  That  will  be  a  feather  in  the  caps 
of  you  boys." 

"  I  should  like  to  take  a  hand  in  the  game,"  said 
O'Hara,  his  face  lighting  up  at  the  prospect. 

"  But  we  want  help  ;  and  there  is  a  great  deal  of 
hard  work  to  be  done,"  continued  Mr.  Frisbone.  "  How 
many  hands  have  you  in  your  boat  ?  " 

"  Ten  besides  Mr.  Rimmer." 

"  If  they  are  good  stout  hands,  we  may  do  some- 
thing with  them."  , 

"But  I  must  report  the  condition  of  the  vessel,  and 
wait  for  further  orders,"  interposed  O'Hara. 

"Quite  right,"  added  the  Prince,  with  a  smile.  "I 
forgot  that  you  live  on  your  discipline." 

"  But  the  boat  came  off  to  take  you  and  the  ladies 
on  board  the  Tritonia." 

"  I  think  we  are  safe  enough  here  for  the  present ; 
and  I  know  the  women-folks  won't  think  they  can  get 
into  that  boat  while  it  is  bobbing  around  like  corn  in  a 
popper.  Return  to  your  ship,  and  give  my  respects  to 
the  captain  and  the  old  folks  on  board,  and  tell  them 
I  think  the  steamer  can  be  saved." 

O'Hara  tried  to  explain  how  easy  it  would  be  to  get 
the  ladies  into  the  cutter ;  but  Mr.  Frisbone  seemed  to 


YOUNG    AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  83 

be  unwilling  to  leave  the  steamer  while  there  was  a 
chance  to  save  her.  He  conducted  the  young  officer 
into  the  cabin,  the  door  of  which  opened  from  the 
main  deck. 

"  Here,  Maggie,"  said  the  Prince,  calling  to  his  wife, 
who  was  in  her  state-room.  "One  of  the  vessels  of 
the  academy  squadron  has  come  to  get  us  out  of  this 
scrape." 

Mrs.  Frisbone  came  out  of  the  state-room,  looking 
very  pale  and  sick.  She  was  followed  by  her  sister  the 
invalid,  who,  however,  looked  better  than  the  Prince's 
wife. 

"This  is  Lieut.  O'Hara,  of  the  Tritonia;  Mrs.  Fris- 
bone." 

The  young  officer  took  off  his  cap,  and  bowed 
politely  to  the  lady. 

"  Miss  Louise  Rodwood,  my  wife's  sister,"  continued 
the  prince. 

O'Hara  thought  she  was  a  very  pretty  girl,  and  he 
indulged  in  an  extra  flourish  as  he  saluted  her. 

"  With  the  compliments  of  the  captain,  I  beg  to 
tender  you  the  hospitalities  of  the  Tritonia,"  said  the 
lieutenant,  when  he  had  formally  greeted  the  ladies. 

"  Good  !  "  roared  the  American  Prince.  "  That  is 
a  very  pretty  way  to  address  a  couple  of  shipwrecked 
women  ;  and  it  is  a  credit  to  your  bringing-up." 

"  I  beg  to  place  our  vessel  at  the  disposal  of  the 
ladies  ;  and  whatever  else  we  may  not  be  able  to  do  for 
you,  we  will  keep  'the  ship  right  side  up." 

"  That's  handsome  ;  and  the  boat  is  all  ready  to  take 
you  to  the  steamer,  Maggie." 

"  I  would  rather  drown  where  I  am  than  attempt  to 


84  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

get  into  that  boat,"  protested  Mrs.  Frisbone.  "  I  saw 
it  from  the  window  in  my  room  ;  and  it  jumps  about 
like  a  wild  horse." 

"  I  am  sure  I  can't  slide  down  a  rope  into  the  boat 
as  I  saw  that  man  come  up,"  added  Miss  Rodwoocl. 

"All  right;  and  we  will  stay  where  we  are  for  the 
present,"  said  Mr.  Frisbone. 

"  We  can  rig  a  whip,  and  lower  the  ladies  into  the 
cutter  without  any  difficulty,"  persisted  the  young  offi- 
cer, who  perhaps  thought  it  would  be  pleasant  to  have 
such  a  passenger  as  the  younger  lady. 

"  If  we  are  in  no  danger  here,  as  Mr.  Frisbone  says 
we  are  not,  I  prefer  to  stay  where  I  am,"  replied  Mrs. 
Frisbone  ;  and  her  sister  was  of  the  same  mind. 

"  All  right,  lieutenant,"  added  the  Prince.  "  I 
thought  the  women  would  rather  stay  where  they  are  ; 
and  I  think  you  had  better  return  to  your  ship,  and 
report  to  the  captain.  If  he  will  send  as  many  men 
as  he  can  spare,  I  believe  we  can  put  this  craft  into 
sailing  trim  in  a  few  hours." 

"  I  will  do  so,  sir.  But  you  forget  that  we  have  no 
engineers  on  board  of  the  Tritonia  to  run  the  engine," 
suggested  O'Hara. 

"  I  will  run  the  engine  myself.  I  never  went  to  sea 
much,  but  I  have  run  an  engine  on  a  river  and  bay 
steamer  enough  to  understand  the  business,"  replied 
the  American  Prince.  "  If  you  will  find  firemen,  I  will 
look  out  for  the  engine." 

"  I  will  report  all  you  say  to  the  captain." 

"  Let  me  see :  you  have  a  vice-principal,  or  some- 
thing of  that  sort,  in  each  of  the  consorts.  Of  course 
he  will  direct  in  this  matter." 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  85 

"We  have  no  vice-principal  in  the  Tritonia  just 
now ; "  and  O'Hara  explained  how  they  happened  to 
be  without  one. 

"  Then  I  suppose  the  professors  attend  to  this  busi- 
ness." 

"  No,  sir :  the  captain  attends  to  it  in  the  absence  of 
the  vice-principal.  The  professors  have  nothing  to  do 
with  the  management  of  the  vessel,  for  they  are  not 
sailors." 

"  And  I  would  rather  trust  the  young  gentlemen  in 
matters  of  seamanship  than  the  professors,"  added 
Mr.  Rimmer,  with  a  chuckle. 

O'Hara  bowed  to  the  ladies,  and  retired  from  the 
cabin.  He  tried  to  be  dignified  and  graceful ;  but 
the  heavy  rolling  of  the  steamer  interfered  sadly  with 
the  poetry  of  motion.  Both  of  the  ladies  were  holding 
on  with  all  their  might  at  the  brass  rods  which  ex- 
tended the  entire  length  of  the  cabin  on  each  side, 
except  across  the  doors  of  the  state-rooms.  Every 
thing  seemed  to  be  in  good  order,  and  every  article 
was  lashed  so  that  it  could  not  move  at  the  motion 
of  the  vessel. 

O'Hara  and  Rimmer  slid  down  into  the  boat,  which 
was  protected  from  the  full  force  of  the  sea  by  being 
under  the  lee  of  the  steamer.  The  cutters  were  all 
life-boat-s,  and  when  well  handled  would  keep  right 
side  up  in  any  ordinary  sea.  The  crews  had  been 
thoroughly  disciplined  in  the  roughest  weather  in 
which  it  was  safe  to  launch  a  boat ;  so  that  they  were 
perfectly  at  home  on  the  present  occasion. 

The  second  cutter  pulled  under  the  davits,  and  the 
falls  were  hooked  on.  This  feat  was  accomplished  not 


86  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

without  great  difficulty,  and  only  by  watching  for  the 
favorable  moment.  A  blunder  might  have  smashed 
the  boat,  and  thrown  its  crew  into  the  sea.  When  the 
falls  were  fast,  the  hands  on  deck  hoisted  the  boat  up 
to  the  davits. 

O'Hara  reported  to  the  captain,  and  explained  why 
the  passengers  on  board  the  wreck  had  not  come  off  in 
the  boat.  Wainwright  was  not  a  little  surprised  to 
learn  that  Mr.  Frisbone,  the  munificent  donor  of  the 
American  Prince,  was  on  board  of  the  steamer  with  his 
wife.  He  knew  precisely  what  Mr.  Lowington  would 
do  if  he  had  been  within  hail,  and  precisely  what  he 
would  wish  to  have  done  in  his  absence. 

"Mr.  Frisbone  desires  you  to  send  as  many  hands  as 
you  can  spare  ;  and  with  help  enough  he  is  confident 
we  can  save  the  steamer,  and  take  her  into  port,"  con- 
tinued the  fourth  lieutenant. 

"  How  many  of  our  ship's  company  can  we  spare, 
Mr.  Marline  ? "  asked  the  captain,  turning  to  the  adult 
boatswain,  who  had  been  called  to  hear  the  report  of 
the  lieutenant. 

"  We  can  get  along  well  enough  with  one  watch," 
replied  the  old  salt. 

"That  was  just  my  view  of  the  matter,"  added  the 
captain.  "But  I  will  not  detail  either  watch  as  a 
whole.  There  will  be  a  great  deal  of  hard  and  dirty 
work  to  be  done  on  board  of  the  steamer,  and  I  will 
call  for  volunteers." 

All  hands  were  piped  to  muster  in  form,  for  they 
had  already  come  on  deck  to  witness  the  expected 
arrival  of  the  passengers  from  the  wreck.  The  seamen 
laid  hold  of  the  life-lines  and  such  parts  of  the  vessel 


YOUNG    AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  87 

as  afforded  them  a  hold,  and  waited  impatiently  to 
learn  what  was  to  be  done.  Capt.  Wainwright  made  a 
speech  in  which  he  explained  the  situation  on  board  of 
the  steamer.  She  was  to  be  saved  and  sent  into  port 
if  possible.  This  announcement  was  greeted  with  yells 
and  cheers. 

"  I  purpose  to  select  a  crew  to  man  the  steamer," 
continued  Wainwright.  "The  work  on  board  of  her 
will  be  difficult,  and  some  of  it  very  dirty  and  disagree- 
able. I  shall  therefore  call  for  volunteers." 

"  Stop,  Wainwright-! "  suddenly  interposed  Mr. 
Primback,  who  had  crawled  on  deck  in  season  to  hear 
the  last  part  of  the  captain's  speech,  after  one  of  the 
stewards  had  informed  him  what  was  transpiring  on 
board. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  Professor  Primback ;  but  this 
business  admits  of  no  delay,"  replied  the  captain, 
vexed  at  the  interruption  of  the  "philosopher." 

"What  do  you  mean,  Wainwright,  by  sending  half 
the  students  out  of  the  vessel  without  saying  a  word  to 
me?  "  demanded  the  irate  instructor. 

"  I  have  consulted  with  Mr.  Marline,  as  you  desired, 
sir ;  and  I  don't  think  there  is  any  other  way  to  do." 

"  But  I  object.  You  have  taken  the  ship  a  long  way 
out  of  her  course  ;  and  here  you  are  wasting  your  time 
and  mine  in  some  Quixotic  adventure." 

"Have  you  been  informed  that  Mr.  Frisbone,  the 
gentleman  who  presented  the  American  Prince  to  the 
principal,  is  on  board  of  that  steamer,  with  his  wife 
and  her  sister,  sir  ? " 

"  I  have  been  so  informed  ;  but  that  don't  affect  the 
case  at  all.  You  sent  a  boat  to  convey  them  on  board 


88  ISLES    OF    THE    SEA  j    OR, 

of  this  vessel,  which  was  a  very  proper  thing  to  do,  as 
it  involved  the  possible  saving  of  human  life.  To  that 
I  did  not  object :  I  do  not  now  object  to  such  just  and 
proper  action  as  may  be  necessary  to  insure  the  safety 
of  any  persons  on  board  of  the  unfortunate  vessel," 
continued  Mr.  Primback,  whose  speech  became  more 
precise  and  dignified  as  he  cooled  off.  "I  do  not 
propose  to  interfere  with  the  management  of  the  ves- 
sel ;  but  when  you  indicate  your  intention  to  send  away 
one-half  of  my  pupils  on  a  boyish  expedition  of  very 
doubtful  practicability,  I  feel  it  to  be  my  duty  to  inter- 
fere as  one  having  authority." 

"  I  shall  be  very  sorry  to  do  any  thing  without  your 
approval,  Professor  Primback,"  replied  Wainwright,  in 
a  very  respectful  tone. 

"  Do  I  understand  you  to  mean  by  that,  you  intend 
to  proceed  with  the  plan  you  have  just  announced 
without  my  sanction,  and  even  in  opposition  to  my 
direct  prohibition  ?  "  demanded  Mr.  Primback,  control- 
ling his  wrath  as  well  as  he  could. 

"  I  hope  you  will  not  compel  me  to  do  any  thing  of 
the  kind,  sir." 

"  I  understand  you  perfectly,  Wainwright.  You  are 
prepared,  I  see,  to  set  at  defiance  my  authority,"  con- 
tinued the  professor,  biting  his  lips  to  repress  his  anger. 

"  I  should  like  to  speak  with  you  a  few  moments, 
brother  Primback,"  interposed  Dr.  Crumples,  the  ether 
instructor  of  the  Tritonia. 

"  I  am  ready  to  hear  any  thing  you  have  to  say,  doc- 
tor," replied  Mr.  Primback  coldly. 

Though  the  two  professors  never  quarrelled,  or  ex- 
hibited any  signs  of  variance,  before  the  students,  there 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUNDS  89 

was  no  sympathy  whatever  between  them.  Dr.  Crum- 
ples was  a  genial,  good-natured  man,  r.ather  fond  of  a 
joke ;  while  the  other  cared  for  nothing  but  Greek, 
Latin,  science,  and  philosophy. 

"  I  have  been  reading  the  regulations,  and  I  have 
come  to  the  conclusion  that  you  and  I  have  nothing  to 
do  or  say  about  the  nautical  affairs  of  this  vessel,"  said 
the  doctor,  in  a  low  tone,  not  intended  for  the  ears  of 
the  students. 

"  Do  you  intend  to  sustain  the  boys  in  their  resist- 
ance to  my  authority,  Dr.  Crumples  ? "  demanded  the 
philosopher,  straightening  himself  up  to  the  full  height 
of  his  dignity. 

Unfortunately  for  him,  in  doing  this  he  let  go  of  the 
life-line  ;  and  a  sudden  jerk  of  the  vessel  would  have 
pitched  him  down  into  the  scuppers  if  Marline  had  not 
seized  him  by  the  arm,  and  held  him.  He  came  down 
from  his  dignity  all  in  a  heap.  The  students  turned 
away  to  hide  the  laugh  they  could  not  suppress. 

"  I  certainly  do  not  intend  to  sustain  the  boys  in 
their  resistance  to  your  authority,  for  the  simple  reason 
that  I  don't  believe  you  have  any  authority  in  the 
premises.  If  you  will  come  into  the  cabin,  where  both 
of  us  will  be  more  at  ease  than  on  this  unstable  deck, 
I  shall  be  happy  to  explain  my  view  of  the  case,"  re- 
plied Dr.  Crumples,  when  his  associate  was  fairly 
planted  on  his  legs  again. 

"  I  do  not  care  to  know  your  opinion  of  the  case, 
Dr.  Crumples,"  added  Mr.  Primback  tartly. 

"You  know  it  already,  professor,"  chuckled  the 
doctor. 

"  I  am  the  senior  professor  of  the  ship,  with  full 
powers  to  direct  every  thing  "  — 


90  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

"  In  the  scholastic  department,"  interposed  the  doc- 
tor. 

"  Do  you  suppose  I  am  placed  here  to  follow  the 
lead  of  a  boy  ?  "  demanded  Mr.  Primback,  pointing  at 
the  captain  of  the  Tritonia  in  the  most  contemptuous 
manner. 

In  releasing  his  hold  upon  the  life-line  he  was  in 
great  danger  of  being  upset  again,  and  Marline  grasped 
his  arm,  this  time  so  vigorously  that  the  professor 
groaned  with  pain.  Possibly  the  old  salt  was  disgusted 
with  the  "  philosopher,"  and  expressed  his  feeling  in 
this  way. 

"  Do  you  mean  to  break  my  arm,  Mr.  Marline  ? " 

"  I  beg  your  honor's  pardon,  but  I  was  afraid  you 
were  going  to  be  shied  into  the  scuppers  again," 
pleaded  the  boatswain. 

"  I  shall  call  for  volunteers,  my  lads,"  Capt.  Wain- 
wright  continued,  resuming  his  speech  to  the  ship's 
company  where  he  had  left  off. 

"You  will  not  call  for  volunteers,  Wainwright ! " 
interposed  Mr.  Primback  warmly.  "  I  forbid  you  to 
call  for  volunteers  !  I  forbid  any  student  to  volunteer ! 
It  is  my  order  that  you  proceed  on  the  voyage  to  Ma- 
deira, according  to  the  direction  of  the  principal." 

"  Shall  I  leave  Mr.  Frisbone  and  the  ladies  to  perish 
on  the  wreck  ?  "  asked  the  captain  mildly. 

"  I  have  already  given  you  permission  to  bring  them 
on  board  of  the  Tritonia.  You  may  still  do  that," 
replied  the  senior  professor. 

"  But  the  ladies  decline  to  get  into  the  boat  while  the 
sea  is  so  rough." 

"  Is  it  possible  to  get  the  ladies  into  the  boat,  Mr. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  91 

Marline  ?  "  asked  the  professor,  turning  to  the  boat- 
swain. 

"  I  suppose  we  could  hoist  them  into  the  boat  by 
main  force  ;  but  they  said  they  preferred  to  drown 
where  they  were,  rather  than  slide  down  on  a  rope  into 
the  cutter,"  replied  the  boatswain,  rather  doggedly. 
"  If  we  can  save  the  steamer  we  ought  to  do  it,  in  my 
judgment." 

"We  have  nothing  to  do  with  saving  the  vessel.  We 
are  not  out  upon  the  ocean  for  any  such  purpose." 

"Just  as  your  honor  pleases." 

"  If  the  ladies  will  not  get  into  the  boat,  you  must 
either  force  them  to  do  so,  or  leave  them  where  they 
are,"  added  Mr.  Primback. 

Wain wright  said  nothing  more.  It  could  make  no 
difference  to  him  if  the  senior  professor  did  forbid  any 
further  action  towards  the  saving  of  the  steamer.  His 
action  was  approved  by  all  the  other  adults  on  board ; 
and  he  was  confident  that  the  officers  and  seamen 
would  obey  his  orders,  possibly  with  greater  readiness 
than  if  the  head  of  the  scholastic  department  had  not 
forbidden  them  to  do  so. 

The  Tritonia  had  filled  away  again  on  the  return  of 
the  second  cutter  from  the  wreck.  By  this  time  it  was 
necessary  to  come  about  again,  and  stand  towards  the 
steamer.  Wainwright  politely  notified  Mr.  Primback 
that  the  vessel  was  about  to  "  go  in  stays ; "  hoping  that 
he  would  retire  to  the  cabin,  and  permit  him  to  finish 
the  business  of  the  hour. 

"Go  in  stays!  Will  you  ever  speak  English,  Wain- 
wright ?  Do  you  mean  to  insult  me  by  using  that  gib- 
berish to  me  when  I  have  forbidden  you  to  do  so  ? " 


93  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

"  That  is  the  proper  nautical  expression  for  what  we 
are  ab'out  to  do,"  replied  the  captain. 

"  Do  you  mean  that  you  are  going  to  turn  the 
vessel  ? " 

"That  is  substantially  what  we  intend  to  do;  but 
sailors  would  not  understand  me  if  I  called  it  turning 
the  vessel." 

"  Do  you  presume  to  instruct  me  in  the  use  of  Ian- 
gunge,  Waimvright?  " 

"  By  no  means,  sir ;  but  I  use  nautical  language  as  I 
was  instructed  to  use  it  by  Mr.  Lowington  and  the 
other  instructors  in  seamanship  and  navigation.  —  Mr. 
Greenwood,  let  the  vessel  go  in  stays,"  continued  the 
captain,  turning  to  the  first  lieutenant. 

"  Man  the  fore  and  main  sheets  !  "  called  the  execu- 
tive officer.  "  Ease  down  the  helm  !  " 

As  the  vessel  came  up  into  the  wind  in  obedience  to 
her  helm,  the  fore  and  main  sheet  began  to  bang  and 
thrash  as  the  pressure  was  removed. 

"  Haul.in  on  the  sheets,"  called  the  first  lieutenant ; 
and  the  order  was  repeated  by  the  other  officers  in 
charge  of  the  sheets. 

"  I'm  afraid  you  will  get  hit  by  the  sheet-blocks  if 
you  stand  here  any  longer,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Marline  to 
Professor  Primback.  "  Excuse  me,  sir,  but  you  had 
better  go  below,  or  the  vessel  will  shake  you  up  badly 
as  she  catches  the  wind  on  the  other  tack." 

The  professor  made  a  dive  at  the  companion-way. 
As  the  vessel  at  that  instant  was  on  an  even  keel,  he 
succeeded  in  reaching  his  destination.  The  line  of 
seamen  ".walking  away "  with  the  fore-sheet  then 
crowded  upon  him,  and  he  fled  to  the  cabin  in  dis- 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  93 

gust.  The  Tritonia  gave  a  terrible  lurch  as  the  sails 
filled  on  the  port  tack  ;  and  the  grouty  professor,  losing 
his  hold  of  the  stair-post,  was  pitched  clown  to  the  lee 
side  of  the  cabin.  One  of  the  stewards  picked  him 
up ;  but  his  temper  got  the  better  of  him.  Dr;  Crum- 
ples tried  to  comfort  him  ;  but  he  would  not  be  com- 
forted. 

The  Tritonia  was  again  headed  towards  the  steamer. 
The  captain  took  some  time  to  consult  with  Mr.  Mar- 
line and  Mr.  Rimmer  in  regard  to  the  detail  of  officers 
and  seamen  for  duty  on  the  disabled  vessel.  Then  he 
had  a  talk  with  O'Hara,  "though  no  one  could  hear 
what  passed  between  them.  All  hands  were  again 
called  ;  and  every  one  on  board  volunteered,  as  the 
captain  had  told  Marline  they  would. 

"  Perhaps,  when  I  have  explained  the  duties  of  the 
crew  on  board  of  the  steamer,  you  will  not  be  so  will- 
ing," said  the  captain,  with  a  laugh.  "It  will  be  ne- 
cessary for  a  pqrtion  of  the  volunteers  to  act  as  fire- 
men ;  and  I  need  not  tell  you  that  the  fire-room  of  any 
steamer  is  a  very  hot  and  dirty  hole.  But  this  work 
will  be  fairly  divided  among  all  the  seamen." 

"But  not  among  the  officers,"  added  a  young  salt, 
laughing. 

"  Certainly  not :  I  shall  detail  two  officers  for  duty 
in  the  engine-room  ;  but  I  select  them  simply  because 
they  understand  the  business,"  replied  the  captain. 
"Lieut.  O'Hara  will  act  as  captain  of  the  steamer; 
first  master  Spcers  as  chief  officer;  second  master 
Raymond  as  second  officer." 

These  names  were  received  with  cheers  by  the  sea- 
men ;  but  the  three  lieutenants  whose  names  had  not 


94  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  j    OR, 

been  mentioned  thought  it  a  little  strange  that  they 
had  been  passed  over,  though  the  third  lieutenant, 
Alexander,  was  competent  to  run  an  engine,  which  ex- 
plained why  his  name  had  been  omitted. 

"Lieut.  Alexander  will  act  as  chief  engineer,  and 
fourth  master  Richards  as  assistant,"  continued  the 
captain,  reading  from  a  paper  he  had  made  out. 

The  names  of  eighteen  seamen  and  petty  officers 
were  then  read  ;  and  Wainwright  desired  any  one  who 
had  any  objections  to  make,  to  make  them  now,  for  it 
would  be  too  late  when  the  party  had  g'one  on  board  of 
the  steamer.  No  one  mad*e  any  objections ;  and  the 
order  was  given  to  clear  away  the  second  and  third 
cutters.  They  were  lowered  into  the  water,  one  at  a 
time,  and  their  crews  pulled  for  the  steamer.  Mr. 
Rimmer,  the  second  cook,  and  two  stewards  were  sent 
with  them. 


YOUNG  AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  95 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE   INVALID   YOUNG   LADY. 

WHEN  Professor  Primback  heard  the  noise  of 
lowering  the  boats  into  the  water,  he  wrote  a 
formal  order  to  the  captain  not  to  send  away  any  por- 
tion of  the  ship's  company,  unless  it  was  to  bring' 
off  the  passengers  of  the  steamer.  He  signed  his 
name  in  full  to  this  document,  and  sent  it  on  deck  by 
one  of  the  stewards.  Wainwright  took  the  paper,  read 
it  attentively,  and  then  put  it  into  his  pocket.  He 
took  no  further  notice  of  it. 

The  senior  professor  evidently  supposed  that  no 
notice  would  be  taken  of  the  order,  and  he  seemed  to 
be  aware  that  he  had  no  means  of  enforcing  his  com- 
mands ;  for  he  went  to  his  state-room,  and  made  no 
further  demonstration.  He  did  not  even  speak  to  Dr. 
Crumples  about  the  matter. 

As  the  crew  of  the  steamer  had  taken  the  boats  with 
them  when  they  abandoned  her,  the  second  and  third 
cutters  of  the  Tritonia  were  to  be  retained  by  the  party. 
In  half  an  hour  they  were  all  on  board  the  steamer, 
with  the  boats  hoisted  up  at  the  davits.  O'Hara  re- 
ported what  had  been  done  on  board  of  the  Tritonia 
to  Mr.  Frisbone,  and  informed  him  that  he  had  .been 


90  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

appointed  captain  of  the  steamer,  or,  at  least,  of  the 
party  sent  to  assist  in  saving  her. 

"  Capt.  O'Hara,  I  greet  you  !  and  the  captain  of  the 
Tritonia  could  not  have  selected  a  better  captain,  with- 
out speaking  ill 'of  the  other  officers;  for  I  know  how 
well  you  managed  some  very  difficult  business  in  Italy 
last  fall,"  said  Mr.  Frisbone.  "  Now  will  you  introduce 
me  to  the  rest  of  your  officers  ? " 

O'Hara  presented  them  one  at  a  time,  and  the 
American  Prince  shook  hands  with  each.  When  he 
came  to  Mr.  Alexander,  he  gave  one  of  his  loud  and 
hearty  laughs. 

"  I  thought  I  was  to  be  chief  engineer,"  said  he, 
wringing  the  hand  of  Alexander;  "but  I  am  willing  to 
place  myself  under  your  orders,  Mr.  Chief  Engineer." 

"  He  is  the  chief  engineer  as  far  as  our  party  is  con- 
cerned," O'Hara  explained.  "  Though  Capt.  Wain- 
wright  is  the  commander  of  the  Tritonia  in  name  and 
in  fact,  so  far  as  doing  duty  is  concerned,  yet  the 
vice-principal  is  really  the  captain.  If  you  please,  Mr. 
Frisbone,  we  shall  all  regard  you  as  the  principal,  on 
board  of  the  steamer." 

"All  right,  Capt.  O'Hara,"  replied  the  Prince,  who 
seemed  to  take  great  delight  in  giving  the  young  officers 
their  full  titles,  and  using  them  often. 

"  I  shall  be  glad  to  take  my  orders  from  you  ;  and 
the  chief  engineer  will  do  the  same,"  added  O'Hara. 

"  Possibly  the  chief  engineer  knows  more  about  run- 
ning an  engine  than  I  clo  ;  and  I  know  more  about 
building  them  than  I  do  of  running  them." 

"  Of  course  I  shall  give  in  to  you,  sir,"  said  Alex- 
ander. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  97 

"  Thank  you  ;  but  do  you  really  know  any  thing 
about  an  engine,  Mr.  Alexander  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Frisbonej 
in  his  teasing  tone. 

•"  Two  years  ago  I  was  assistant  engineer  on  a  screw 
steamer  about  the  size  of  this  one,"  answered  Alex- 
ander. 

"  And  how  old  were  you  two  years  ago  ? " 

"  I  was  eighteen,  sir.  My  father  received  a  legacy 
from  an  uncle  in  Scotland,  which  made  him  a  rich 
man  ;  and  then  I  was  sent  to  this  institution  to  finish 
my  education.  I  had  worked  two  years  in  a  machine- 
shop  before  I  went  to  sea  at  all.  I  think  I  can  run  an 
engine,  sir." 

"  I  have  no  doubt  you  can ;  in  fact,  I  believe  these 
young  gentlemen  can  do  any  thing  that  anybody  can," 
added  Mr.  Frisbone,  laughing  heartily ;  and  sometimes 
no  one  could  imagine  what  he  was  laughing  at. 

"  The  second  engineer  ran  a  stationary  engine  when 
he  was  twelve  years  old,  in  his  father's  shop,"  con- 
tinued O'Hara,  when  he  had  presented  this  officer. 

"  And  I  was  engineer  of  a  small  steam-yacht  when 
I  was  fourteen,"  added  Richards. 

"  All  right,  young  gentlemen ;  and  'I  shall  have 
nothing  to  do  but  sleep  in  the  cabin,  and  take  care  of 
the  women-folks,"  chuckled  the  Prince. 

"  I  think  some  of  our  officers  will  be  quite  willing  to 
assist  you  in  that  part  of  your  duty,"  said  O'Hara 
lightly.  "Upon  my  loife,  the  young  lady  is  as  beauti- 
ful as  the  lovely  Giulia  Fabiano ;  and,  by  the  powers, 
that's  saying  a  great  dale  !  " 

"  By  the  way,  now  I  think  of  it,  is  there  a  young 
gentleman  in  the  squadron  by  the  name  of  Speers,  — 
Tom  Speers  ? " 


98  ISLES   OF  THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

•  "  There  is,  sir ;  and  he  is  one  of  our  party,"  replied 
O'Hara.  "  Where  are  ye,  Tom  Speers  ?  " 

Tom  had  been  introduced ;  but  the  Prince  evidently 
did  not  notice  the  name,  for  he  had  called  him  "  Mr. 
Spear,"  when  he  addressed  him.  Tom  came  forward 
when  his  name  was  called. 

"  How  is  it  you  happen  to  be  here,  Mr.  Speers  ? " 
asked  the  Prince. 

"  I  was  detailed  to  act  as  chief  officer  of  this  vessel, 
by  the  captain  of  the  Tritonia,  sir,"  replied  Tom,  won- 
dering how  Mr.  Frisbone  happened  to  know  any  thing 
about  him. 

"  I  know  ;  but  you  were  sent  for  by  my  friend  Judge 
Rodwood,  to  go  to  England." 

"  I  did  not  go,  sir." 

"Well,  we  won't  stop  to  talk  about  that  now.  We 
must  go  to  work  on  the  steamer  at  once,  and  have  her 
in  good  condition  in  case  another  storm  comes  on," 
said  Mr.  Frisbone,  suddenly  changing  his  tone  and 
manner. 

But,  before  the  officers  left  the  cabin,  he  introduced 
them  to  his  wife  and  her  sister ;  then  the  party  took  a 
look  at  the  vessel  below.  Mr.  Rimmer  had  been  study- 
ing the  hole  in  the  starboard  bow  since  he  came  on 
board,  and  by  this  time  he  was  hard  at  work  repairing 
the  damage.  Two  seamen,  who  had  a  taste  for  carpen- 
try, were  detailed  to  assist  him.  Until  the  hole  was 
stopped,  nothing  could  be  done  towards  righting  the 
vessel ;  for  she  lay  just  in  the  proper  position  to  enable 
the  carpenter  to  do  his  work  to  the  best  advantage. 

Mr.  Rimmer  intended  to  do  the  job  in  a  much  more 
thorough  manner  than  he  had  at  first  proposed,  for  the 


YOUNG  AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  99 

reason  that  he  found  the  materials  for  it  on  board. 
He  proceeded  to  splice  the  broken  ribs,  and  then  to 
plank  them  over,  as  the  work  would  have  been  done  in 
a  ship-yard.  A  stage  was  rigged,  and  lowered  over  the 
side  ;  and,  while  the  carpenter  was  getting  out  his  stock, 
his  assistants  removed  the  broken  planking.  The 
heavy  rolling  of  the  vessel  interfered  very  much  with 
operations  on  the  stage  ;  but  the  workmen  were  very 
zealous,  and  made  good  progress  in  spite  of  all  the 
disadvantages. 

In  the  mean  time  Mr.  Frisbone  and  the  rest  of  the 
ship's  company  were  preparing  to  right  the  steamer, 
and  pump  the  water  out  of  her,  as  soon  as  this  work 
could  be  undertaken.  The  steam-pump  was  put  in 
good  order ;  and  every  thing  about  the  vessel  was  re- 
stored to  its  usual  condition,  so  far  as  it  was  possible 
to  do  so. 

In  the  afternoon  the  wind  abated  almost  to  a  calm, 
and  a  boat  came  from  the  Tritonia  to  pay  the  steamer 
a  visit.  Mr.  Marline  was  in  it,  with  one  of  the  stewards 
who  had  been  a  ship-carpenter.  Both  of  them  went  to 
work  with  Mr.  Rimmer,  and  before  dark  the  hole  was 
planked  over.  As  there  were  some  indications  of  bad 
weather  again,  the  Tritonia's  boat  returned,  and  Mr. 
Rimmer  and  his  assistants  proceeded  to  calk  the  seams 
by  the  light  of  the  lanterns.  By  midnight  the  job  was 
completed,  even  to  coppering  the  part  below  the  water- 
line. 

Before  eight  bells  in  the  evening,  the  ship's  company 
had  been  divided  into  two  watches,  as  in  the  merchant 
service.  One  watch  had  turned  in  at  eight  bells ;  but 
all  hands  were  called  at  midnight,  when  the  repairs 


100  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  j    OR, 

were  finished.  At  this  time  the  steam-pump  was  start- 
ed, and  it  discharged  the  water  at  a  very  rapid  rate. 
Mr.  Rimmer  followed  the  water  as  it  receded  in  the 
hold,  to  ascertain  if  there  was  any  leak  in  the  bottom ; 
but  none  was  found. 

The  steamer  had  for  a  cargo  the  parts  of  an  iron 
bridge,  and  the  labels  upon  them  indicated  that  it  was 
consigned  to  a  firm  in  Barcelona.  One  of  the  heaviest 
of  the  pieces  had  shifted  from  its  position  in  the  hold, 
throwing  others  out  of  place,  till  their  weight  had  heeled 
the  vessel  over  as  the  party  had  found  her. 

''Well,  Capt.  O'Hara,  do  you  think  you  can  stow 
this  cargo  over  again  so  as  to  right  the  vessel  ? "  asked 
Mr.  Frisbone,  when  the  pump  had  worked  long  enough 
to  afford  them  a  full  view  of  the  condition  of  the  hold. 

"  I  have  no  doubt  I  can,"  replied  O'Hara  confidently. 

"  But  some  of  those  pieces  weigh  several  tons," 
suggested  the  Prince. 

"  But  we  have  a  donkey-engine  on  deck ;  and,  with 
snatch-blocks,  we  can  apply  the  power  in  any  direction 
we  desire." 

"  Precisely  so :  I  see  that  you  are  master  of  the 
situation." 

The  captain  had  already  caused  the  necessary  blocks 
and  rigging  to  be  collected  in  the  hold.  The  assistant 
engineer  was  stationed  .  at  the  donkey-engine,  the 
snatch-blocks  were  arranged  for  moving  the  heaviest 
piece  of  the  bridge,  and  the  rope  was  adjusted.  A 
chain  sling  was  attached  to  the  iron,  and  the  line  made 
fast  to  it. 

"  Go  ahead ! "  said  O'Hara,  when  every  thing  was 
ready ;  and  the  order  was  passed  along  the  line  of  sea- 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  IOI 

men  until  it  reached  the  officer  in  charge  of  the  donkey- 
engine. 

The  rope  straightened  and  strained  as  the  power  was 
applied ;  and  then  the  huge  mass  of  iron  began  slowly 
to  move  in  the  required  direction.  Mr.  Rimmer  and 
his  gang  placed  the  skids,  and  in  the  course  of  half  an 
hour  the  piece  was  moved  to  the  place  indicated  by  the 
carpenter.  The  steamer  came  up  on  an  even  keel  as 
the  heavy  weight  changed  position. 

"  But  she  is  down  too  much  by  the  stern,"  said  Mr. 
Rimmer,  when  the  piece  had  been  blocked  securely  in 
its  place. 

"  I  see  why  that  is,"  added  the  Prince.  "  Half  a 
dozen  of  those  tube  pieces  have  rolled  out  of  the  places 
where  they  were  first  stowed." 

These  were  restored  to  their  original  beds  as  indi- 
cated by  the  blocking;  and  they  had  doubtless  been 
thrown  out  of  place  by  the  shifting  of  the  larger  piece. 

"  The  vessel  is  in  good  trim  now,"  said  Mr.  Rimmer, 
wiping  the  perspiration  from  his  brow.  "  Those  pieces 
will  not  move  again  unless  the  steamer  goes  over  on 
her  beam-ends." 

The  party  left  the  hold,  and  hastened  on  deck.  The 
weather  was  still  mild,  though  the  sky  was  clouded 
over.  The  captain  sent  an  order  to  the  chief  engineer, 
directing  him  to  get  up  steam.  The  fires  had  been 
started  in  the  furnaces ;  but  only  steam  enough  had  been 
made  to  work  the  donkey-engine,  which  was  not  fur- 
nished with  a  separate  boiler,  as  in  many  vessels. 

The  amateur  firemen  had  been  fully  instructed  in 
their  duties  by  Mr.  Frisbone,  who  remained  in  the  fire- 
room  till  morning.  Thus  far  the  seamen  considered 


102  ISLES    OF   THE    SEA;    OR, 

the  hot  and  dirty  work  as  good  fun  ;  but  they  were  not 
likely  to  hold  this  opinion  for  any  length  of  time. 
Four  hands  had  been  detailed  from  each  watch  to 
serve  as  firemen ;  and  these  were  to  work  two  at  a 
time,  so  that  only  two  hours'  service  were  required  of 
each,  or  six  hours  a  day.  The  fire-room  was  well 
ventilated,  so  that  it  was  not  so  intensely  hot  as  in 
many  steamers.  A  lot  of  cast-off  woollen  shirts  and 
trousers  had  been  brought  from  the  Tritonia  for  the 
use  of  the  firemen. 

Mr.  Frisbone  did  not  like  the  looks  of  the  quarters 
occupied  by  the  French  sailors  and  firemen ;  and  he 
insisted  that  the  seamen  should  be  berthed  in  the  cabin. 
There  were  state-rooms  enough  to  accommodate  them 
all ;  but  the  part  of  the  cabin  used  by  the  officers  was 
separated  from  that  of  the  seamen  by  a  curtain  sliding 
on  a  brass  rod. 

The  steamer  was  the  Ville  d' Angers.  She  was  evi- 
dently a  nearly  new  vessel,  of  about  six  hundred  tons. 
Unlike  most  of  the  English  steamers,  she  had  a  pilot- 
house forward,'  as  in  American  vessels  of  this  kind. 
Her  cabin  was  handsomely  fitted  up,  and  she  appeared 
to  be  a  first-class  steamer  in  every  respect. 

O'Hara  went  into  the  pilot-house,  when  the  work 
below  was  completed.  Tom  Speers  followed  him,  for 
there  was  nothing  more  to  be  done  till  the  engineer 
should  report  that  he  had  steam  enough  to  start  her. 

"  This  will  be  a  big  spree,  my  boy,"  said  the  captain, 
as  he  seated  himself  by  the  wheel. 

"  The  biggest  that  ever  happened.  I  am  amazed  to 
find  myself  in  it,"  replied  Tom.  "  I  don't  see  how  I 
came  to  be  appointed  to  the  second  place  on  board, 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  103 

when  there  are  so  many  fellows  above  me  that  wanted 
to  take  a  hand  in  this  business." 

"You  don't  see  it?  Then  I'll  tell  you,  my  boy," 
added  the  captain  with  a  jolly  laugh,  as  though  he  en- 
joyed the  situation. 

"  I  suppose  you  helped  me  into  the  place." 

"  Troth,  I  did,  thin  !  You  see,  when  a  fellow  like  you, 
rotten  with  stamps,  with  millions  in  prospect,  and  a  let- 
ter of  credit  for  thousands  in  his  trousers-pocket,  comes 
along,  it  is  well  to  get  on  the  right  side  of  him,"  con- 
tinued O'Hara,  laughing  all  the  time. 

"  I  don't  believe  the  money  had  any  thing  to  do  with 
it,"  protested  Tom.  "  You  are  the  farthest  from  a  self- 
ish fellow  of  all  the  ship's  company;  and  I  won't 
believe  what  you  say  of  yourself." 

"  Thank  you  for  so  much,  my  lad.  But  I'll  bet  a 
hackle,  if  the  fellows  knew  how  rich  you  are,  they 
would  say  that's  the  rayson.  When  Capt.  Wainwright 
told  me  beforehand  that  he  should  give  me  the  com- 
mand of  the  steamer,  which  he  didn't  do  till  he  had 
talked  it  over  with  Mr.  Marline,  he  asked  me  to  tell 
him  who  I  wanted  for  officers.  Your  name  was  the 
first  I  gave  him ;  so  don't  forget  me  when  you  make 
your  will." 

"  I  certainly  will  not  if  I  have  any  thing  to  leave," 
replied  Tom. 

"  Steam  up  ! "  shouted  Alexander  through  the  speak- 
ing-tube which  connected  with  the  engine-room. 

"Then  we  are  all  ready  to  go  ahead.  Have  you 
seen  the  Tritonia's  lights  lately,  Tom  ? "  said  O'Hara, 
looking  out  in  the  direction  from  which  they  had  been 
last  seen. 


104  ISLES    OF   THE    SEA  \    OR, 

"  I  have  not :  we  have  all  been  so  busy  that  we  have 
not  thought  of -her.  She  has  been  standing  off  and  on 
all  night,  I  suppose." 

"There  she  is,  astern  of  us,"  added  O'Hara.  "We 
must  run  down  and  report  the  state  of  things  on  board 
to  the  captain.  Call  the  quartermaster  and  a  seaman 
to  take  the  wheel,  if  you  please,  Tom." 

The  two  hands  were  called  into  the  pilot-house,  and 
the  quartermaster  was  given  the  charge  of  the  wheel. 
The  other  hand  was  required  to  assist  him,  for  the 
officers  had  not  yet  learned  how  much  force  was  needed 
to  steer  the  steamer. 

"  Do  you  know  any  thing  about  these  jinglers,  Bur- 
ley  ? "  asked  the  captain,  as  the  quartermaster  took  the 
wheel. 

"  Yes,  sir : '  the  chief  engineer  told  me  all  about 
them,"  replied  Burley. 

"  Start  her,  then,"  added  the  captain. 

The  quartermaster  pulled  the  bell-handle  on  the 
wheel-frame.  The  hissing  steam  was  heard  below;  the 
vessel  jarred  a  little;  and  then  she  went  ahead. 

"  The  course,  if  you  please  ? "  inquired  the  quarter- 
master. 

"  Run  for  the  Tritonia ;  but  be  sure  you  don't  run 
over  her,"  replied  O'Hara.  "  She  is  astern  of  us  now." 

"  For  the  Tritonia,  sir,"  repeated  Burley,  as  he  threw 
the  wheel  over. 

"  We  are  actually  moving  !  "  said  O'Hara,  as  he  left 
the  pilot-house,  followed  by  Speers. 

"  I  think  there  is  no  doubt  of  that,"  replied  the  chief 
officer.  "  Have  you  any  idea  where  we  are  going  ? " 

"  Not  the  least  in  the  world ;  but,  the  nearer  the  port, 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  105 

the  shorter  our  term  of  office.  I  wish  we  were  bound 
to  New  York,  or  some  other  port  pn  the  other  side  of 
the  ocean ;  for  I  should  like  a  long  cruise  under  present 
circumstances." 

"  So  should  I ;  but  I  suppose  we  shall  have  only  a 
day  or  two  of  it  at  the  most." 

"  We  shall  soon  know  where  we  are  going ;  for  I 
suppose  Capt.  Wainwright  has  been  studying  on  that 
question  since  he  sent  us  on  board  of  the  steamer." 

O'Hara  then  directed  that  the  starboard  watch,  which 
had  been  on  duty  all  night,  should  be  relieved.  It  was 
two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  they  were  to  be  called 
at  four.  This  was  Tom  Speers's  watch  ;  but  he  was 
not  inclined  to  turn  in  before  the  captain  had  reported 
to  the  Tritonia.  Raymond  was  now  in  charge  of  the 
deck,  and  Tom  had  nothing  to  do.  He  went  into  the 
cabin,  and  to  his  surprise  found  that  Miss  Rodwood 
was  there. 

Tom  touched  his  cap  to  her,  and  remarked  that  she 
was  up  late.  There  had  been  so  much  noise  in  the 
hold,  that  she  could  not  sleep,  and  she  had  got  .up. 
The  officer  seated  himself  on  a  divan,  and  he  could 
not  keep  his  eyes  off  the  fair  passenger. 

Miss  Rodwood  was  walking  up  and  down  the  cabin  ; 
and  Tom  could  not  help  thinking  again  that  she  was 
a  very  pretty  girl.  She  was  very  pale,  and  no  doubt  her 
recent  experience  on  shipboard  had  been  a  severe  trial 
to  her  nerves.  Tom  noticed  that  there  was  something 
very  strange  about  her  expression.  He  could  not 
explain  it ;  but  he  was  confident  that  she  was  suffering 
from  some  cause.  She  did  not  seem  to  be  in  bodily 
pain.  The  motion  of  the  vessel  was  tolerably  easy 


106  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

compared  with  what  it  had  been,  so  that  she  had  no 
difficulty  in  walking  on  the  cabin  floor.  The  curtain 
partition  was  open  on  one  side  of  the  table,  so  that  the 
lady  extended  her  walk  to  the  entire  length  of  the 
apartment. 

She  kept  quickening  her  pace  till  she  was  going 
almost  at  a  run ;  but  she  moderated  it  as  she  ap- 
proached the  young  officer.  Tom  watched  her  with 
increasing  interest,  as  she  appeared  to  grow  more  ex- 
cited. He  was  sure  now  that  something  was  the  mat- 
ter with  her ;  and  he  felt  that  something  ought  to  be 
done  for  her. 

"  The  weather  has  been  very  favorable  for  our 
work,"  said  Tom,  desiring  to  ascertain  something  more 
about  the  lady's  condition  through  the  medium  of  con- 
versation. 

"  I  suppose  it  has,"  she  replied,  with  a  nod,  and  con- 
tinued her  walk. 

Tom  saw  that  her  eye  looked  a  little  wild.  He 
decided  that  he  ought  to  inform  Mr.  Frisbone  of  her 
condition,  though  he  hardly  understood  enough  of  such 
matters  to  determine  whether  any  thing  was  the  matter 
with  her. 

While  he  was  thinking  of  the  case,  he  saw  Miss 
Rodwood  ascend  a  flight  of  stairs  in  the  forward  part 
of  the  cabin,  leading  to  the  hurricane-deck.  He  rushed 
out  at  the  main  entrance,  and  ran  up  the  ladder.  The 
lady  was  walking  very  fast  towards  the  stern  of  the 
vessel.  He  concluded  that  she  had  come  up  to  take 
the  air  ;  and  she  would  certainly  regard  it  as  imperti- 
nent for  him  to  follow  her.  He  paused  to  consider 
what  he  should  do. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  107 

He  saw  O'Hara  planking  the  main  deck  from  the 
waist  forward.  He  would  speak  to  him,  and  ask  him 
to  send  for  Mr.  Frisbone.  He  descended  to  the  main 
deck,  and  hailed  the  captain. 

"I  thought  you  had  turned  in,  my  boy,"  said  the 
captain  lightly. 

"  No  :  I  thought  I  would  stay  up  till  you  have  com- 
municated with  the  Tritonia,"  replied  Tom.  "Have 
you  noticed  any  thing  strange  about  the  young  lady  on 
board,  O'Hara  ?  " 

"  Upon  me  sowl,  I  haven't,  except  that  she  is  as 
pretty  a  girl  as  I  have  set  eyes  on  for  seven  years ;  and 
that's  saying  a  great  dale,"  answered  the  captain. 

"  Don't  joke,  please,  just  now,  O'Hara.  I  think  some- 
thing ails  the  young  lady  ;  and  I'm  afraid  it's  something 
serious,"  added  Tom. 

"You  don't  mane  itl  What  could  ail  a  girl  as 
pretty  as  she  is  ? " 

Tom  took  five  minutes  to  tell  what  he  had  observed 
in  the  cabin. 

"  Is  it  crazy  she  is  ?  Is  that  what  you  mane  ? " 
demanded  O'Hara,  not  a  little  excited  by  the  inference 
he  drew  from  what  his  companion  had  said. 

"  You  needn't  call  it  by  any  such  name  as  that.  I 
bt-lieve  she  is  an  invalid ;  and,  after  all  she  has  been 
through  during  the  last  twenty-four  hours,  it  wouldn't 
be  very  strange  if  she  were  a  little  out  of  her  head.  I 
cV.rft  like  to  lose  sight  of  her.  There  she  is,  walking 
'  _  a-  cl  clown  the  poop-deck  as  though  she  were  run- 
a  race  with  her  own  shadow.  Will  you  send  one 
(  f  the  watch  down  to  tell  Mr.  Frisbone  how  it  is  with 
her,  or  ask  him  to  come  on  deck  without  saying  what 
is  wanted  ? " 


I08  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

"  Troth,  I'll  do  so  myself !  "  replied  the  captain,  hur- 
rying down  through  the  engine-room. 

He  had  hardly  disappeared  before  Miss  Rodwood 
started  to  run  with  all  her  might  towards  the  stern  of 
the  steamer.  Tom  Speers  leaped  up  the  ladder  to  the 
hurricane-deck  in  season  to  see  her  spring  over  the 
low  railing  into  the  sea. 

"  Man  overboard  !  man  overboard  !  Stop  her  !  " 
cried  Tom  at  the  top  of  his  lungs  ;  and  they  were  not 
feeble  lungs. 

He  cut  loose  the  life-buoy  which  was  lashed  to  the 
railing,  and  threw  it  overboard.  But  Tom  was  not 
content  with  this  action  :  he  kicked  off  his  shoes,  and 
stepped  out  of  his  heavy  pea-jacket  and  coat  at  the 
same  moment,  and  plunged  into  the  sea. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  109 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
THE  VILLE  D'ANGERS. 

"  T  TELP,  help!     Save  me!"  cried  Miss  Rodwood 

JLJL  in  the  water,  at  some  distance  from  Tom 
Speers. 

As  the  girl  had  voluntarily  thrown  herself  into  the 
sea,  Tom  could  not  understand  why  she  called  for  as- 
sistance. He  had  struck  the  water  only  a  few  seconds 
after  she  sprang  overboard,  and  she  could  not  be  at 
any  great  distance  from  him.  He  was  a  strong  swim- 
mer, and  the  sea  was  very  smooth.  He  heard  the  cry 
of  the  girl  repeated  as  he  came  up  with  the  life-buoy 
he  had  thrown  overboard. .  Placing  it  before  him,  he 
swam  with  all  the  speed  he  could  make,  and  reached 
the  sufferer  when  she  was  quite  exhausted  by  her  efforts. 
She  could  swim  a  little  herself,  and  had  more  confi- 
dence in  the  water  than  most  persons  who  had  never 
tried  to  do  so. 

"  Don't  be  afraid  !  "  cried  Tom,  when  he  saw  in  the 
gloom  of  the  night  that  she  was  still  struggling  to  keep 
afloat. 

In  a  moment  more  he  reached  her,  and  placed  her 
hands  upon  the  life-buoy,  which  was  buoyant  enough 
to  support  both  of  them. 


110  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA;    OR, 

"  You  are  perfectly  safe  now,"  said  Tom,  as  he 
assured  himself  that  she  had  a  good  hold  upon  the 
buoy. 

She  was  too  much  exhausted  to  make  any  reply; 
and,  whatever  she  had  intended  in  the  beginning,  it 
was  clear  enough  to  Tom  that  she  had  no  present  desire 
to  end  her  young  life. 

Capt.  O'Hara  had  hardly  entered  the  engine-room, 
when  he  heard  the  energetic  cry  of  Tom  Speers  ;  and 
he  realized  in  an  instant  that  the  worst  his  friend  feared 
had  come  to  pass. 

"  Man  overboard  !  Stop  her,  Alexander  !  "  he  shout- 
ed to  the  chief  engineer,  who  was  watching  the  motions 
of  the  machinery. 

The  captain  told  the  engineer  to  pass  the  word  for 
Mr.  Frisbone.  He  returnd  to  the  main  deck  ;  but  Ray- 
mond, the  second  officer,  had  heard  the  startling  cry. 
Already  the  third  cutter  was  swung  out,  and  all  the 
watch  on  deck  were  in  the  boat.  The  officers  and  sea- 
men had  been  thoroughly  trained  to  this  sort  of  service, 
and  there  had  been  no  more  delay  than  if  they  had 
been  on  board  of  the  Tritonia.  The  crew  lowered 
themselves  into  the  water,  as  there  was  no  difficulty  in 
doing  in  a  smooth  sea.  The  falls'  were  cast  off,  and 
the  cutter  shoved  away  from  the  steamer.  The  four 
oars  were  shipped,  and  the  crew  pulled  with  all  their 
muscle. 

"  Pull  directly  astern  of  the  vessel !  "  shouted  O'Hara, 
who  had  gone  upon  the  hurricane-deck,  where  he  could 
see  all  that  was  done. 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir ! "  replied  the  quartermaster,  who,  as 
the  highest  in  rank,  had  taken  the  place  of  the  cox- 


YOUNG  AMERICA   HOMEWARD   BOUND.  Ill 

swain  ;  for  the  boat-service  of  the  steamer  was  not  yet 
organized,  and  it  was  not  the  practice  in  the  vessels  of 
the  squadron  to  wait  for  the  regular  officers  and  crew 
of  the  boats  in  any  emergency. 

"  Call  all  hands,  Mr.  Raymond,"  said  the  captain  to 
the  officer  of  the  deck. 

As  there  was  not  another  seaman  left  on  the  deck  of 
the  Ville  d'Angers,  Raymond  performed  this  duty  him- 
self. 

"  Man  overboard  !  All  hands  on  deck ! "  cried  Ray- 
mond, as  he  passed  into  the  cabin,  and  proceeded  to 
open  the  doors  of  all  the  state-rooms  occupied  by  the 
crew. 

"  What  is  the  matter  ? "  asked  Mrs.  Frisbone,  coming 
out  of  her  room. 

"  Man  overboard,  madam,"  replied  the  second  offi- 
cer. 

"  Man  overboard !  Who  is  it  ? "  asked  the  terrified 
lady. 

"  I'm  sure  I  don't  know  who  it  is,  madam." 

As  it  was  a  "  man  overboard,"  it  did  not  occur  to 
her  that  the  unfortunate  person  could  be  her  sister; 
but,  fearing  that  the  invalid  might  be  alarmed  at  the 
unusual  noise,  she  went  to  her  room,  and  found  she 
was  not  there. 

"  Where  is  my  sister  ? "  asked  Mrs.  Frisbone,  very 
much  startled  by  the  discovery  she  had  made. 

"I  don't  know,  madam,"  replied  Raymond.  "I  saw 
her  walking  on  the  hurricane-deck  a  while  ago.  I  will 
see  if  she  is  there  now." 

The  second  officer  left  the  cabin ;  and,  finding  the 
captain  on  the  upper  deck,  he  asked  if  he  had  seen 
Miss  Rodwood. 


112  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

"  She  is  overboard,"  replied  the  captain. 

"  My  sister  overboard  !  "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Frisbone, 
who  had  followed  Raymond  from  the  cabin. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  say  she  is,  madam,"  added  O'Hara  ; 
"  but  I  think  she  will  be  saved.  Mr.  Speers  leaped 
in  after  her  only  a  few  seconds  after  she  went  over." 

"  Did  she  fall  into  the  water?  "  demanded  the  excited 
lady. 

"  She  jumped  over  the  railing  herself,  madam,"  an- 
swered O'Hara,  as  gently  as  he  could  utter  the  disa- 
greeable words. 

"  Impossible  !  She  could  not  have  intended  to  end 
her  life,"  groaned  the  agonized  sister. 

The  captain  was  explaining  what  had  passed  in  the 
cabin  before  the  catastrophe,  when  Mr.  Frisbone  joined 
them.  He  was  astounded  at  the  intelligence  conveyed 
to  him. 

"  Have  you  suspected  that  she  was  out  of  her  head, 
Maggie  ?  "  he  inquired. 

"I  have  not  seen  a  single  indication  of  any  thing  of 
the  kind,"  she  replied. 

"  I  was  on  my  way  to  the  fire-room  to  call  you,  at 
the  request  of  Mr.  Speers,  who  was  sure  something  was 
the  matter  with  her,  when  I  heard  the  cry  of  '  Man 
overboard,'  "  added  O'Hara. 

"  I  wish  he  had  called  me,"  said  Mrs.  Frisbone,  with 
a  shudder. 

"  Don't  be  alarmed,  madam  :  I  am  confident  she  will 
be  saved,"  continued  the  captain,  looking  out  into  the 
darkness  astern  of  the  ship. 

"  I  am  sure  I  did  not  suspect  any  thing  of  this  kind. 
She  seemed  to  be  quite  cheerful  and  happy  when  she 
retired,"  mused  Mrs.  Frisbone. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  113 

"  Hurrah  !  hurrah  ! "  shouted  the  boat's  crew,  in  the 
gloom,  where  they  could  not  be  seen. 

"That  means  good  news,"  said  the  captain.  "They 
have  her  in  the  boat  by  this  time." 

The  party  on  the  deck  listened  for  further  sounds  in 
the  direction  from  which  the  cheers  had  come.  In  a 
few  moments  they  heard  the  measured  stroke  of  oars 
at  some  distance  from  the  ship.  Raymond  had  ordered 
up  all  the  lanterns  on  board,  which  were  taken  to  the 
gangway. 

"  Hurrah  !  hurrah !  hurrah  !  "  shouted  the  crew  of 
the  third  cutter,  as  the  boat  approached  the  steamer. 

The  party  descended  from  the  hurricane-deck,  and 
gathered  at  the  gangway,  where  the  accommodation 
steps  had  been  rigged  by  Raymond's  directions.  The 
cutter  came  up  to  the  platform  ;  and  Tom  Speers,  tak- 
ing the  shivering  invalid  in  his  arms,  bore  her  up  the 
steps,  and  into  the  cabin. 

She  was  too  cold,  and  exhausted  by  her  struggles  in 
the  water,  to  speak.  Tom  laid  her  in  the  berth,  and  all 
retired  but  her  sister.  Her  wet  clothing  was  removed, 
and  she  was  wrapped  in  blankets.  In  half  an  hour  she 
Vras  warm  and  comfortable.  Her  improved  condition 
was  reported  by  the  Prince  to  the  interested  officers. 

"  What  induced  you  to  do  such  a  thing  ? "  asked 
Mrs.  Frisbone.  "  Are  you  tired  of  living,  Louise  ?  " 

"  Far  from  it,  Maggie !  I  don't  know  what  made 
me  do  it.  I  can't  explain  it.  I  certainly  had  no  inten- 
tion of  jumping  overboard.  An  impulse  came  over 
me,  and  I  could  not  resist  it.  I  have  hardly  slept  a 
wink  for  two  nights,  and  I  was  very  nervous." 

This  was  all  the  explanation  the  invalid  could  give 


114  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA;    OR, 

of.  the  rash  act  she  had  attempted.  She  insisted  that 
the  bath  had  done  her  good,  and  that  she  was  no  lon- 
ger vexed  by  the  morbid  fancies  which  had  troubled  her 
since  the  collision.  She  expressed  her  gratitude  in  the 
strongest  terms  to  the  young  gentleman  who  had  gone 
to  her  assistance ;  and  she  was  sure  she  should  have 
drowned  without  his  aid,  for  she  felt  that  she  was  sink- 
ing when  he  brought  the  life-buoy  to  her. 

Mrs.  Frisbone  would  not  leave  her  again  that  night, 
though  the  invalid  declared  that  she  should  go  to  sleep 
at  once ;  and  she  did  as  soon  as  the  explanations  were 
finished.  In  the  mean  time  Tom  Speers  had  gone  to 
his  state-room,  and  changed  his  wet  clothes  for  dry 
ones,  and  was  no  worse  for  his  bath. 

"  Mr.  Speers,  you  have  laid  me  and  my  wife  under  a 
load  of  obligation  that  I  shall  never  feel  like  getting 
rid  of,"  said  the  Prince,  as  the  young  hero  came  out  of 
his  room.  "  I  like  that  girl  as  though  she  was  my  own 
daughter ;  and  you  have  clone  more  for  me  than  any 
living  man  could  do,  unless  it  was  to  save  my  wife  from 
drowning  in  the  same  way." 

"  I  am  sorry  you  feel  that  way  about  it,  sir,"  replied 
Tom,  laughing ;  "  for  I  don't  like  to  have  anybody  feel 
that  he  owes  me  too  much." 

"You  are  more  than  ten  times  the  feller  I  supposed 
you  was,  Mr.  Speers ;  and  I  have  heard  a  good  deal 
about  you  within  the  last  week  or  two." 

"  What  have  you  heard  about  me,  sir  ? "  asked  Tom 
curiously. 

"  I'll  tell  you  some  other  time,"  answered  the  Prince. 
"  I  must  go  and  look  out  for  the  firemen,  for  they  are 
very  green  in  their  new  duties,  and  I'm  afraid  they 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  115 

will  catch  cold  when  the  watch  is  shifted  :  it  is  just  like 
boys  to  go  on  deck  to  cool  off  when  they  leave  the 
fire-room." 

Mr.  Frisbone  disappeared  in  the  engine-room,  and 
Tom  went  forward.  He  had  a  long  talk  with  O'Hara 
about  the  adventure  of  the  night,  in  which  the  captain 
did  not  spare  the  praise  he  felt  that  the  bold  fellow 
deserved. 

"  Upon  my  sowl,  the  Prince  would  make  you  a  rich 
man  if  he  could ;  but,  by  the  powers,  you  have  got 
ahead  of  him,  and  it'll  be  no  use.  You  are  richer  than 
he  is,  and  he  can't  do  any  thing  for  you  in  that  way." 

"  I  hope  not ;  for  I  should  feel  insulted  if  a  man 
offered  me  money  for  that  sort  of  service,"  replied  the 
high-toned  young  officer.  "  I  feel  as  much  at  home  in 
the  water  as  I  do  on  this  deck  ;  and,  if  I  saw  anybody 
in  the  water,  I  couldn't  help  going  in  after  him,  if  he 
needed  help." 

"  That's  the  ginerous  nature  you  have,  my  boy !  It's 
a  wonder  you  wasn't  born  in  ould  Ireland  or  Italy." 

"  The  Tritonia  is  close  aboard  of  us,"  said  the  officer 
of  the  deck,  touching  his  cap  to  the  captain. 

"  I  see  she  is :  slow  down,  if  you  please,  Mr.  Ray- 
mond," replied  O'Hara.  "  We  shall  soon  know  now  to 
what  port  we  are  bound." 

"  I  tliink  I  can  go  to  sleep  when  I  know  that,"  added 
Tom. 

The  Tritonia  had  made  a  long  tack  in  standing  off 
and  on  ;  and,  when  she  was  at  the  greatest  distance 
from  the  Ville  d'Angers,  the  wind  had  died  out.  She 
was  rolling  in  the  long  swells  with  all  sail  set,  but  mak- 
ing no  progress  through  the  water.  The  Ville  d'Angers 


Il6  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA;    OR, 

ran  across  her  wake,  and  within  hailing  distance   of 
her. 

"  On  board  of  the  steamer !  "  called  the  officer  of  the 
deck. 

"  On  board  the  Tritonia ! "  replied  Raymond,  prompted 
by  the  captain. 

"  The  captain  desires  Mr.  O'Hara  to  report  in  per- 
son," added  the  officer  of  the  schooner. 

"  All  ready  with  the  third  cutter,"  said  the  captain. 

The  boat  was  lowered  into  the  water,  and  pulled  off 
with  O'Hara  on  board.  In  a  few  moments  he  was  on 
the  quarter-deck  of  the  Tritonia.  Capt.  Wainwright  had 
been  called  when  the  steamer  was  made  out  by  the 
watch,  and  he  immediately  came  on  deck. 

O'Hara  reported  in  full  concerning  his  action  since 
he  had  taken  possession  of  the  steamer.  He  declared 
that  the  Ville  d' Angers  was  in  good  seaworthy  condi- 
tion in  every  respect.  She  was  abundantly  supplied 
with  coal,  water,  and  provisions. 

"  It  seems  very  remarkable  that  we  should  pick  up 
Mr.  Frisbone  and  his  wife  in  a  disabled  vessel,"  said 
Capt.  Wainwright,  when  O'Hara  had  finished  his  re- 
port, which  closed  with  the  catastrophe  of  Miss  Rod- 
wood.  "  It  would  perhaps  have  been  better  if  the 
American  Prince  had  happened  to  come  to  the  relief 
of  the  Ville  d'Angers." 

"  But  better  the  Tritonia  than  neither,"  added 
O'Hara. 

"There  would  have  been  a  certain  fitness  in  the 
American  Prince  saving  her  former  owner  from  the 
perils  of  the  sea." 

'  "  Indade  there  would ! "   exclaimed  the  captain  of 
the  steamer. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  117 

"  But  I  suppose  you  want  your  orders  ;  and  I  confess 
that  I  have  been  in  a  great  deal  of  doubt.  Professor 
Primback  is  so  much  incensed  against  me,  that  he  won't 
speak  to  me.  I  have  asked  his  advice  in  regard  to 
what  to  do  ;  but  he  will  not  say  any  thing.  He  says  I 
am  in  the  attitude  of  rebellion  against  his  authority. 
He  insists  that  I  shall  call  back  the  students  I  have 
sent  away,  and  let  the  steamer  go  to  the  bottom,  if  that 
was  to  be  her  fate.  Mr.  Marline  thinks  I  had  better 
send  her  to  the  nearest  port,  which  would  be  Ca- 
diz." 

"  That  would  be  a  sensible  way  to  dispose  of  her," 
interposed  O'Hara,  who  was  in  favor  of  an  independ- 
ent cruise. 

"  Then  I  find  I  differ  from  all  others.  I  am  neither 
in  favor  of  sending  her  to  Cadiz,  or  of  letting  her  go  to 
the  bottom,"  added  the  captain  of  the  Tritonia  decid- 
edly. "  And,  as  I  am  to  be  responsible  for  my  action, 
I  shall  follow  my  own  plan.  Mr.  Primback  annoys  me 
very  much,  and  I  wish- to  put  an  end  to  this  state  of 
things  as  soon  as  possible." 

"  You  did  not  state  your  plan,  captain,"  suggested 
O'Hara  nervously ;  for  the  independent  cruise  seemed 
to  be  no  longer  probable. 

"  I  worked  over  the  dead  reckoning  last  night,  after 
the  calm  settled  down  upon  us ;  and  I  make  it  out  that 
the  Josephine  cannot  be  more  than  forty  or  fifty  miles 
to  the  southward  of  us.  She  must  have  laid  her  course 
sooner  than  we  did,  or  we  should  not  have  lost  sight  of 
her  in  the  night." 

"  The  American  Prince  must  have  sailed  some  time 
in  the  evening,  if  she  was  not  delayed  by  the  storm ; 


Il8  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA;    OR, 

and  she  may  have  overhauled  the  Josephine  before  this 
time." 

"  Possibly  ;  but  the  two  vessels  got  so  much  off  their 
course  during  the  blow,  that  I  hardly  expect  to  see  the 
Prince  till  we  reach  Funchal,"  replied  Capt.  Wainwright. 
"  All  I  care  for  is  to  get  the  vice-principal  on  board 
again ;  and  then  he  can  settle  all  disputed  questions, 
and  order  the  Ville  d'Angers  to  Funchal  or  to  Cadiz, 
as  he  pleases  ;  and  I  shall  be  relieved  of  all  responsi- 
bility." 

,  "  I  see,"  said  O'Hara  ;  but  he  did  not  see  what  he 
wished  to  see. 

"  The  Josephine  must  be  becalmed,  as  we  are,  within 
fifty  miles  of  us  ;  and,  as  the  weather  is  clear  now,  we 
shall  be  likely  to  see  her,"  continued  the  captain.  "  So, 
Mr.  O'Hara,  you  will  range  your  steamer  ahead  of  the 
Tritonia,  and  take  on  board  our  best  hemp  cable.  In 
other  words,  you  will  take  the  schooner  in  tow.  When 
you  have  made  fast  our  line,  you  will  make  your  course 
south  south-west,  and  run  under  full  steam." 

"  South  south-west,  under  full  steam,"  repeated 
O'Hara,  not  at  all  pleased  with  the  prospect;  for  he 
did  not  like  the  idea  of  having  the  Ville  d'Angers 
changed  into  a  tow-boat,  as  he  contemptuously  ex- 
pressed it  afterwards. 

"  It  is  now  nearly  eight  bells  in  the  morning,"  con- 
tinued Wainwright.  "  You  will  take  the  course  given 
you  ;  and  if  by  meridian  we  don't  see  any  thing  of  the 
Josephine,  I  shall  be  ready  to  give  you  new  orders." 

O'Hara  returned  to  his  boat,  and  was  pulled  to  the 
steamer.  She  went  on,  and  took  a  position  ahead  of 
the  schooner,  and  as  near  as  it  was  safe  to  lie.  The 


YOUNG    AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  1 19 

'second  cutter  carried  the  tow-line  to  her  stern,  and  the 
end  was  hauled  on  board.  It  was  made  fast  under  the 
direction  of  Mr.  Rimmer,  for  there  were  no  proper  bitts 
for  the  purpose. 

"  Are  you  all  ready  ? "  shouted  the  captain  of  the 
Tritonia. 

"  All  ready,  sir,"  replied  O'Hara,  when  the  hawser 
had  been  secured. 

"  Then  go  ahead,"  responded  Capt.  Wainwright. 

The  bells  in  the  engine-room  sounded ;  and  in  a  few 
minutes  the  Ville  d' Angers  was  going  ahead  at  full 
speed,  towing  the  Tritonia  in  the  direction  indicated 
by  the  captain  of  the  latter. 

Mr.  Frisbone  was  informed  of  the  use  to  be  made  of 
the  steamer;  but  he  offered  no  objection.  He  had 
heard  that  Madeira  was  a  good  place  for  invalids ;  and 
very  likely  his  wife's  sister  would  do  as  well  as,  if  not  bet- 
ter than,  at  Malaga  so  late  in  the  season.  He  was  as 
willing  to  go  to  Funchal  as  to  Spain.  He  staid  in  the 
fire-room  till  six  o'clock,  when  he  had  thoroughly  trained 
both  watches  of  firemen  in  their  duties. 

During  the  forenoon  Tom  Speers  saw  Miss  Rodwood 
for  the  first  time  since  the  stirring  event  of  the  early 
morning.  She  expressed  her  gratitude  to  him  in  the 
warmest  terms,  and  Tom  thought  she  was  prettier  than 
ever. 

"  You  bear  a  name  which  has  been  familiar  to  me 
for  some  years,  Miss  Rodwood,"  said  Tom,  trying  to 
turn  the  conversation  from  his  own  gallant  deed. 
"Judge  Rodwood  was  my  uncle's  most  intimate  friend, 
but  I  have  no  acquaintance  with  his  family ;  and  possi- 
bly you  are  his  daughter." 


120  ISLES    OF    THE    SEA  ;    OR, 

"  I  am  not  his  daughter :  he  has  no  children.  Judge 
Rodwood  is  my  uncle ;  and  he  is  a*  very  intimate  friend 
of  Mr.  Frisbone." 

"  Yes ;  and  he  was  very  anxious  to  find  you,  young 
man,"  said  the  Prince,  who  joined  the  party  in  the 
cabin  at  this  moment. 

"  He  was  more1  anxious  to  find  me  than  I  was  to  have 
him  find  me,"  replied  Tom,  laughing. 

"Your  uncle  has  left  you  a  big  fortune,  and  ap- 
pointed the  judge  your  guardian.  Didn't  you  get  a 
despatch  and  some  letters  from  him?"  asked  the 
Prince. 

"  I  received  a  despatch  and  a  letter  from  him,"  re- 
plied Tom. 

"  Then,  why  under  the  sun  didn't  you  answer  it,  or  go 
to  London  at  once  ?  "  demanded  the  Prince,  who  sup- 
posed he  had  not  received  any  thing  from  the  judge. 

Tom  honestly  explained  why  he  had  not  opened  the 
letter. 

"  If  you  have  any  influence  with  Judge  Rodwood,  I 
hope  you  will  use  it  to  induce  him  to  allow  me  to 
remain  in  the  academy  squadron,"  continued  Tom. 

"  I  certainly  will ;  for  I  believe  it  is  the  best  institu- 
tion in  the  world,"  replied  the  Prince  heartily. 

"  Sail  on  the  starboard  bow !  "  shouted  the  lookout 
in  the  foretop  of  the  Tritonia,  loudly  enough  to  be 
heard  on  board  of  the  steamer. 

This  announcement  put  an  end  to  the  conversation, 
for  all  were  anxious  to  know  whether  or  not  the  sail 
was  the  Josephine.  All  the  glasses  on  board  were 
pointed  at  the  white  spot  on  the  ocean  in  the  distance, 
A  gentle  breeze  was  blowing  from  the  south-east,  and 


YOUNG    AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  121 

the  vessel  had  all  sail  set ;  but  she  was  too  far  off  for 
the  officers  of  the  steamer  to  determine  what  she  was. 

"  On  board  the  Ville  d'Angers !  "  shouted  the  officer 
of  the  deck  on  the  Tritonia. 

Raymond  answered  the  hail ;  and  the  order  came 
from  Capt.  Wainwright,  to  head  the  steamer  to  the 
south-west.  This  course  was  directly  towards  the 
distant  sail.  At  six  bells  in  the  forenoon  watch,  all 
hands  were  assured  that  the  sail  was  the  Josephine. 
Wainwright  ordered  three  guns  to  be  fired  on  board  of 
the  steamer,  to  attract  the  attention  of  her  people  ;  for 
the  wind  was  freshening,  and  the  chase  was  likely  to 
be  prolonged.  Mr.  Frisbone,  who  had  fired  the  guns 
which 'answered  as  signals  of  distress,  attended  to  this 
duty,  though  the  students  were  very  anxious  to  assist, 
especially  in  pulling  the  lock-string. 

The  signals  were  heard  on  board  of  the  Josephine ; 
and  she  came  about,  and  stood  towards  the  steamer  and 
her  tow.  In  half  an  hour  the  vessels  were  within  hail- 
ing distance. 

"  Steamer  ahoy ! "  shouted  Robinson,  the  officer  of 
the  deck  on  board  of  th£  Josephine. 

"  On  board  of  the  Josephine !  "  replied  Raymond. 

"  What  steamer  is  that  ? " 

"  The  Ville  d'Angers,  towing  the  Tritonia." 

While  this  conversation  was  going  on,  the  crew  of 
the  Josephine  were  getting  out  the  second  cutter ;  and, 
when  it  was  lowered  into  the  water,  Mr.  Pelham 
stepped  on  board.  The  boat  pulled  for  the  Tritonia, 
which  had  been  cast  off  by  the  steamer,  and  had 
heaved  to  under  the  lee  of  the  Josephine.  The  vice- 
principal  boarded  her,  and  was  received  by  Capt. 
Wainwright,  cap  in  hand. 


122  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

"  I  am  very  glad  to  see  you,  Mr.  Pelham,"  said 
Wainwright,  as  they  shook  hands. 

"I  did  not  expect  to  see  the  Tritonia  again  till  she 
arrived  at  Funchal,"  replied  the  vice-principal. 

"I  am  glad  you  have  come,  sir,"  said  Professor 
Primback  in  a  severe  tone.  "  I  am  sorry  to  be  obliged 
to  charge  Wainwright  with  gross  insubordination  during 
your  absence,  Mr.  Pelham." 

"I  will  hear  your  complaint  at  another  time,  Mr. 
Primback,"  replied  the  vice-principal. 

"  I  think  it  would  be  more  proper  to  hear  it  at  the 
present  time,"  added  the  professor.  "  I  have  suspended 
Wainwright  and  Scott  from  duty ;  and  I  wish  to  know 
whether  or  not  my  authority  is  to  be  sustained."  No 
attention  whatever  has  been  paid  to  my  directions.  If 
you  have  any  orders  to  give,  you  will  please  regard 
Greenwood  as  the  captain,  and  Alexander  as  the  first 
lieutenant." 

The  professor  then  retired  to  the  cabin. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  123 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE   NEW   SHIP'S    COMPANY. 

THE  vice-principal  was  very  much  perplexed  at  the 
condition  of  things  he  found  on  board  of  the  Tri- 
tonia.  He  was  greatly  annoyed  that  his  involuntary 
absence  had  raised  a  tempest  in  the  vessel.  He  was 
astonished  to  find  the  schooner  in  tow  of  the  steamer ; 
and,  before  he  made  any  inquiries  into  the  case  of  dis- 
cipline, he  listened  to  the  report  of  the  captain  of  the 
events  which  had  transpired  since  the  consorts  parted 
company. 

Before  Wainwright  had  proceeded  far  with  his  ac- 
count, the  cutter  which  had  conveyed  Mr.  Pelham  on 
board  returned  with  Mr.  Fluxion.  The  two  vice-prin- 
cipals heard  the  story,  and  then  retired  to  the  cabin  to 
consult  together  in  regard  to  it.  Mr.  Primback  was 
called  ;  and  his  charges  against  the  captain  and  the 
second  lieutenant  were  heard. 

Wainwright  and  Scott  were  questioned  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  professor ;  and,  when  they  had  retired,  the 
charge  against  Scott  was  declared  to  be  frivolous,  as 
any  sailor  could  see  that  it  was. 

.     "  I  think  if  you  will  read  the  regulations,  Professor 
Primback,  you  will  see  that  you  had  no  authority  to 


124  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

suspend  the  captain  or  the  second  lieutenant,"  said 
Mr.  Fluxion,  who  was  disgusted  with  the  conduct  of 
the  instructor. 

"  I  admit  that  the  regulations  give  me  no  authority 
over  the  officers  of  the  vessel  in  purely  nautical  mat- 
ters," replied  Mr.  Primback.  "  I  take  pride  and  pleas- 
ure in  acknowledging  that  I  know  nothing  about  a  ship 
or  its  management." 

"  It  would  be  better  if  you  knew  enough  about  nau- 
tical matters  to  understand  the  duty  of  the  officers," 
added  the  senior  vice-principal.  "  It  is  very  unpleas- 
ant for  me  to  decide  against  you ;  but  the  case  is  so 
very,  plain,  that  I  can't  do  otherwise." 

"  I  think  you  have  not  fully  examined  the  premises, 
Mr.  Fluxion,"  continued  the  professor,  nettled  at  the 
obvious  displeasure  of  the  senior  authority.  "  The 
scholastic  department  is  under  my  direction  in  the 
absence  of  the  junior  vice-principal." 

''That  is  admitted."      . 

"  But  the  captain,  a  mere  boy,  may  send  away  one- 
half  of  the  students,  and  then  require  the  other  half  to 
be  on  duty  all  the  time  in  the  management  of  the 
vessel.  In  other  words,  he  may  practically  abolish  the 
scholastic  department,"  added  Mr.  Primback  triumph- 
antly, for  he  believed  he  had  made  out  a  very  strong 
case. 

"  And  the  head  of  the  scholastic  department  takes 
pride  in  being  so  ignorant  of  nautical  affairs  as  to  be 
incapable  of  judging  whether  or  not  the  captain  is  jus- 
tified in  sending  away  one-half  of  his  ship's  company, 
and  requiring  the  other  half  to  do  duty  on  board  of 
his  own  vessel,"  answered  Mr.  Fluxion,  with  some  ex- 
citement in  his  manner. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  125 

"  Then,  as  the  acting  principal,  I  may  be  carted  all 
over  the  ocean  at  the  pleasure  of  this  boy !  "  exclaimed 
the  professor.  "  I  may  not  even  protest  when  he 
chooses  to  depart  from  the  course  of  any  boyish  enter- 
prise that  happens  to  excite  his  imagination." 

"  That  is  precisely  the  situation,"  replied  the  senior 
vice-principal,  with  a  smile.  "  The  boy  will  be  held 
responsible  for  the  management  of  the  vessel ;  and,  if 
he  depart  from  the  prescribed  course  without  sufficient 
reason  for  doing  so,  he  would  be  punished  for  it.  If 
he  took  the  vessel  out  upon  such  a  boyish  expedition 
as  you  describe,  he  would  certainly  lose  his  place  as 
commander." 

"  But  the  boy  is  placed  over  the  man  :  I  am  ignored, 
though  I  am  old  enough  to  be  the  boy's  father,"  pro- 
tested the  professor. 

"  The  boy  has  no  authority  over  you,  any  more  than 
you  have  over  him,  in  nautical  matters.  The  sailor  is 
placed  over  the  landsman.  But  you  forget,  Mr.  Prim- 
back,  that  this  is  an  exceptional  case.  The  accidental 
absence  of  the  vice-principal  in  charge  caused  all  the 
difficulty.  This  is  a  thing  that  is  not  likely  to  happen 
again.  A  sudden  squall  rendered  it  impossible  for  him 
to  return  to  his  vessel." 

"  Am  I  to  understand  that  you  approve  the  conduct 
of  this  boy,  sir  ?  "  demanded  the  professor. 

"  If  he  had  obeyed  your  orders,  he  might  have  been 
compelled  to  abandon  Mr.  Frisbone  and  the  two  ladies 
to  their  fate,  to  say  nothing  of  the  duty  of  saving  the 
steamer.  I  do  approve  the  conduct  of  Capt.  Wain- 
wright ;  and  I  think  he  deserves  nothing  but  praise  and 
commendation  for  what  he  has  done.  I  am  sure  the 


126  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

principal  will  take  the  same  view  of  the  matter,"  re- 
plied Mr.  Fluxion. 

"  Then  I  am  to  be  snubbed  by  this  boy  ? " 

"  I  understand  you  to  say  that  he  has  been  courteous 
and  polite  to  you." 

"  I  have  no  fault  to  find  with  his  manner ;  only  with 
his  refusal  to  obey  me." 

"  Then  I  think  nothing  more  need  be  said  about  the 
matter.  If  you  had  confined  yourself  to  your  own 
duties,  there  would  have  been  no  trouble." 

"  I  consider  myself  censured  by  your  decision ;  and 
I  desire  to  resign  my  position  as  an  instructor  in  this 
institution,"  added  Mr.  Primback,  with  all  the  dignity 
he  could  assume. 

"  I  have  nothing  to  do  with  your  resignation :  that 
should  go  to  the  principal,"  replied  Mr.  Fluxion,  who 
hoped  to  see  a  more  reasonable  person  in  his  place, 
and  one  who  knew  a  brace  from  a  bobstay. 

The  professor  disappeared  in  his  state-room,  and  re- 
lated his  grievances  to  Dr.  Crumples,  who  had  no  sym- 
pathy at  all  with  him. 

The  more  interesting  question  to  be  settled  was  the 
destination  of  the  Ville  d'Angers.  The  vice-principals 
talked  it  over  for  some  time,  without  coming  to  a  con- 
clusion, and  then  decided  to  visit  the  steamer  to  confer 
with  Mr.  Frisbone.  The  Prince  gave  them  a  hearty 
greeting ;  but  he  had  no  opinion  in  regard  to  the  dis- 
posal of  the  vessel.  There  was  no  law,  so  far  as  they 
were  aware,  that  required  the  vessel  to  be  taken  to  one 
port  rather  than  another ;  and  it  was  finally  decided 
that  the  voyage  to  Madeira  should  be  continued,  the 
steamer  accompanying  the  two  schooners. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  127 

But  Mr.  Fluxion  was  not  satisfied  with  the  present 
arrangement  in  regard  to  the  ship's  company  of  the 
Ville  d'Angers,  since  it  was  composed  of  one-half  of 
the  Tritonia's  people,  while  the  Josephine  remained 
fully  manned.  He  thought  the  burden  of  taking  the 
steamer  into  port  should  be  more  equally  divided  be- 
tween the  two  vessels.  Mr.  Pelham  doubted  whether  it 
was  expedient  to  mix  the  two  crews ;  but  his  senior  over- 
ruled his  objection,  and  a  new  list  was  made  out  for  the 
ship's  company  of  the  extra  vessel.  The  names  were 
shown  to  O'Hara  by  the  vice-principals. 

"  I  suppose  you  don't  object,"  said  Mr.  Fluxion, 
with  a  rather  sarcastic  smile  ;  for  he  was  not  much  in- 
clined to  consult  the  wishes  of  the  young  gentlemen 
when  he  detailed  them  for  duty  outside  of  their  own 
craft.  "  You  will  have  more  officers,  and  a  larger 
crew  for  the  steamer." 

"  Upon  me  sowl,  I  do  object !  "  exclaimed  O'Hara, 
with  no  little  excitement  in  his  manner,  after  he  had 
looked  at  the  list  of  officers. 

"  Well,  what's  the  matter  now  ? "  demanded  the  sen- 
ior vice-principal,  with  something  like  a  frown  on  his 
bronzed  face. 

"  I  like  the  ship's  company  we  have  now  a  great  dale 
better,"  replied  O'Hara  decidedly. 

"  It  would  be  quite  as  respectful  if  you  should  pro- 
nounce the  English  language  properly  when  .you  ad- 
dress your  superior  officers,"  added  Mr.  Fluxion,  who 
was  by  far  the  severest  disciplinarian  in  the  squadron. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  sir,"  said  O'Hara,  touching  his 
cap,  and  taking  it  off  while  he  bowed  low  to  the  senior 
officer  present.  "  I  did  not  intend  to  be  disrespectful." 


128  ISLES   OF   THE  SEA;    OR, 

"  Very  well,  Mr.  O'Hara :  you  have  shown  that  you 
can  speak  English  as  well  as  French,  Italian,  and 
Irish,"  replied  Mr.  Fluxion,  his  face  relaxing  into  a 
smile  again.  "  What  objection  have  you  to  the  list  in 
your  hand  ?  " 

"  I  like  the  present  detail  better,  sir." 

"  That  is  no  answer  to  my  question.  What  objec- 
tion have  you  ? " 

"  The  first  is,  that  this  reduces  Mr.  Speers  to  the 
rank  of  second  officer,  when  he  has  done  all  the  hard 
work  of  putting  the  steamer  into  sailing-trim  as  first." 

"  If  an  officer  from  the  Tritonia  has  the  command, 
the  Josephine  should  have  the  second  place  on  board," 
added  Mr.  Fluxion. 

"  I  think  that  is  quite  fair,"  interposed  Mr.  Pelham. 

"  I  think  so  myself,  if  the  Josephine  is  to  take  part 
in  getting  the  vessel  into  port,"  continued  O'Hara,  who 
could  not  help  recognizing  the  fairness  of  the  senior's 
decision.  "  But  my  second  objection  is  to  mixing  the 
two  crews  at  all." 

"  I  see  no  objection  to  that,"  said  Mr.  Fluxion. 

"  I'm  afraid  they  won't  agree  together,"  suggested 
O'Hara,  shaking  his  head. 

"  If  there  is  any  danger  of  a  disagreement  of  this 
kind,  it  is  time  the  two  crews  were  mingled,  so  that 
they  may  learn  a  new  lesson  in  discipline." 

"  There  has  always  been  a  good  deal  of  rivalry  and 
some  hard  feeling  among  the  different  vessels  of  the 
squadron,  sir,"  continued  O'Hara ;  and  it  is  probable 
that  the  boy  knew  more  about  this  matter  than  the  man, 
and  the  junior  vice-principal,  who  had  been  a  student  in 
the  institution,  understood  it  better  than  the  senior. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  1 29 

"  I  can  conceive  of  no  disagreement  among  officers 
and  seamen  while  on  duty.  You  are  to  be  in  command 
of  the  steamer,  Mr.  O'Hara ;  and  if  any  one  from  the 
Josephine  refuses  to  obey  your  orders,  or  makes  trouble 
on  board,  you  will  promptly  report  it  to  me  ;  and,  if  the 
offender  is  an  officer,  he  shall  take  the  lowest  number 
in  the  ship,"  replied  the  stern  disciplinarian,  with  the 
feeling,  that,  if  there  were  any  such  insubordination  in 
the  vessel,  he  would  like  to  get  hold  of  it. 

"  But  the  vessels  may  be  separated  again,  as  they 
have  been  before,"  suggested  O'Hara,  who  was  cer- 
tainly very  much  opposed  to  having  any  of  the  Joseph- 
ine's officers  under  his  command. 

"  We  are  not  likely  to  be  separated  again :  we  have 
had  one  hard  storm,  and  we  are  not  in  much  danger  of 
having  another  before  we  get  to  Madeira,  which  will  be 
in  three  or  four  days  at  the  most." 

"I  will  do  the  best  I  can,  sir,"  replied  O'Hara, 
touching  his  cap  to  the  senior. 

"  I  don't  like  to  have  the  students  serve  as  firemen," 
continued  Mr.  Fluxion.  "  Possibly  I  may  be  able  to 
find  a  crew  of  firemen  for  the  steamer." 

"  How  will  it  be  possible  for  you  to  find  a  crew  of 
firemen  here  in  mid-ocean  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Pelham,  smil- 
ing with  incredulity. 

"  The  Josephine  has  not  been  without  an  adventure 
any  more  than  the  Tritonia,"  replied  Mr.  Fluxion. 
"Yesterday  morning  at  daylight  we  picked  up  a  boat  in 
which  were  six  men.  They  are  all  Frenchmen  and  Ital- 
ians ;  and  say  their  steamer  was  sunk  in  a  collision  with 
another  vessel  in  the  night.  Most  of  the  crew  and  pas- 
sengers got  on  board  of  the  other  vessel,  and  they  took 


130  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

a  boat  to  go  to  her ;  but  it  was  upset  in  the  heavy  sea. 
They  righted  the  boat,  and  all  but  one  of  them  succeeded 
in  getting  into  it  again  ;  but  the  other  vessel  was  out 
of  sight  in  the  fog  then,  and  they  were  unable  to  find 
her.  This  is  the  story  they  tell ;  and  I  have  no  doubt 
it  is  true.  Very  likely  they  belonged  to  the  Ville  d'An- 
gers." 

"  If  they  did,  how  was  it  possible  for  you  to  have 
picked  them  up  ? "  asked  Mr.  Pelham. 

"  The  steamer  could  not  have  been  a  great  way  from 
either  of  us  when  you  heard  the  guns,  though  the  Tri- 
tonia,  as  we  may  see  by  comparing  the  reckoning,  was 
considerably  to  the  northward  of  the  Josephine,"  added 
Mr.  Fluxion. 

"  But  where  are  these  men  ?  They  have  recognized 
the  steamer  by  this  time,  if  she  was  the  one  in  which 
they  were  employed.'-' 

"  Probably  they  have  not  seen  her  yet,"  replied  Mr. 
Fluxion,  laughing.  "  They  slept  all  clay  yesterday ; 
and,  as  I  did  not  see  them  on  deck  when  I  left  the 
schooner,  I  suppose  they  are  sleeping  off  another  day. 
They  asked  for  wine,  and  insisted  that  they  must  have 
it ;  and  they  have  slept  all  the  time  since  I  told  them 
we  had  none  on  board." 

The  change  was  announced  to  the  ship's  company 
of  the  Ville  d'Angers ;  and  the  half-dozen  students  who 
were  required  to  return  to  the  Tritonia  were  indignant 
and  dissatisfied  ;  but  none  of  them  dared  say  any  thing 
in  the  presence  of  Mr.  Fluxion.  They  were  ordered 
into  the  Josephine's  boat,  and  left  on  board  of  their 
own  vessel.  The  cutter  then  proceeded  to  the  Joseph- 
ine, and  both  vice-principals  boarded  her.  O'Hara 
went  with  them. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  131 

It  was  found  that  the  men  picked  up  in  the  boat 
were  still  asleep  under  the  top-gallant  forecastle,  where 
quarters  had  been  fixed  up  for  them.  Mr.  Shakings, 
the  adult  boatswain  of  the  Josephine,  was  directed  to 
call  them  ;  and  they  soon  presented  themselves  in  the 
waist,  where  the  vice-principals  were  waiting  to  examine 
them  in  regard  to  their  vessel.  They  were  a  very  hard- 
looking  set  of  men  ;  and  it  was  evident  enough  that 
severe  discipline  would  be  required  to  keep  them  in 
order. 

As  soon  as  they  came  on  deck,  they  discovered  the 
Ville  d'Angers,  which  lay  astern  of  the  Josephine. 
They  threw  up  their  hands  in  astonishment  when  they 
saw  her,  and  uttered  a  great  many  wild  exclama- 
tions. 

"  What  was  the  name  of  your  steamer  ?"  asked  Mr. 
Fluxion  in  French. 

"  The  Ville  d'Angers,"  replied  one  of  them  ;  and 
then  they  all  indulged  in  another  volley  of  exclama- 
tions. 

"  Is  that  the  Ville  d'Angers  ?  "  inquired  the  senior, 
pointing  at  the  steamer. 

"  It  is  not  possible !  "  shouted  several  of  them  at 
once.  "  She  was  sunk.  A  big  hole  was  cut  in  her 
bow  ;  and  the  water  was  pouring  into  her  when  we  left 
her." 

They  all  talked  together,  and  it  was  almost  impossible 
to  understand  them.  Some  spoke  in  French,  and  others 
in  Italian  ;  for  it  appeared  that  there  was  a  scarcity  of 
Frenchmen,  so  many  of  them  had  gone  into  the  army. 
The  most  intelligent  one  was  an  Italian  ;  and  he  was 
conducted  to  the  quarter-deck,  where  O'Hara  was  in- 


132  ISLES    OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

structed  to  question  him.  But  all  the  information 
needed  had  been  obtained  from  Mr.  Frisbone. 

This  man  said  his  name  was  Alfonzo.  He  was 
asked  if  he  and  his  companions  were  willing  to  work 
as  firemen  of  the  steamer  on  the-  trip  to  Funchal,  if 
they  received  good  wages.  Then  the  fellow  put  on  a 
cunning  look,  and  it  was  plain  that  he  was  disposed  to 
drive  a  sharp  bargain.  He  thought  a  moment ;  and 
the  interpreter  saw  that  he  was  studying  up  some  hard 
terms,  and  was  going  to  ask  for  something  which  he 
regarded  as  exorbitant. 

"  We  worked  on  the  Ville  d' Angers  six  days  for 
which  we  have  received  no  pay,"  said  '  Alfonzo,  with  a 
cunning  leer. on  his  face.  "  Pay  us  for  this  time,  and 
we  will  work  on  the  steamer." 

"  What  were  your  wages  on  the  steamer  ? "  asked 
O'Hara. 

The  fellow  hesitated  a  moment,  and  then  said  three 
francs  a  day.  O'Hara  reported  the  substance  of  Al- 
fonzo's  reply  to  the  senior,  at  the  same  time  express- 
ing his  belief  that  the  Italian  was  lying,  and  that  the 
firemen  —  for  such  they  all  were  —  had  not  been  paid 
more  than  two  francs,  or  at  most  not  more  than  two 
and  a  half. 

"  Sixty  .cents  a  day  is  little  enough  for  men  who  work 
in  the  fire-room  of  a  ship  at  sea ;  and  they  shall  have 
their  own  price,"  replied  Mr.  Fluxion. 

O'Hara  informed  Alfonzo  that  his  terms  were  ac- 
ceded to,  and  he  was  told  to  settle  the  matter  with  his 
companions.  He  looked  quite  sad,  instead  of  rejoi- 
cing that  his  terms  had  been  accepted :  he  was  sorry 
that  he  had  not  asked  more.  The  others  assented. 


YOUNG  AMERICA   HOMEWARD   BOUND.  133 

"  This  young  gentleman  is  the  captain  of  the  steam- 
er," said  Mr.  Fluxion,  pointing  to  O'Hara. 

The  firemen  all  laughed  as  they  surveyed  him  from 
head  to  foot ;  and  possibly  they  thought  they  should 
have  an  easy  time  of  it  on  board  of  the  Ville  d'An- 
gers,  if  she  was  to  be  managed  by  boys  like  those  of 
the  Tritonia.  They  were  ordered  into  the  boat,  and 
were  put  on  board  of  the  steamer. 

"Mr.  Speers  particularly  desires  that  the  studies 
may  be  continued  while  we  are  on  board  of  the  steam- 
er," said  O'Hara,  when  the  men  had  been  sent  away. 

"  Speers !  "  exclaimed  the  senior  vice-principal,  evi- 
dently astonished  at  the  suggestion.  "  He  is  the  young 
man  who  went  from  the  steerage  up  to  first  master,  and 
whose  guardian  is  looking  for  him,  I  believe." 

"  The  same,  sir." 

"  He  shall  be  gratified ;  and  Capt.  Fairfield,  our 
extra  instructor,  who  is  the  most  versatile  scholar  in 
the  squadron,  shall  be  transferred  to  the  Ville  d'An- 
gers,"  added  Mr.  Fluxion. 

"Capt.  Fairfield!"  exclaimed  O'Hara,  afraid  the 
instructor  might  be  a  sailor,  and  be  placed  over  his 
head  as  an  acting  vice-principal ;  for,  like  most  young 
men,  he  preferred  to  have  the  supreme  command  of  the 
vessel. 

"  He  is  a  West-Pointer,  and  knows  no  more  about  a 
ship  than  a. marine  ;  though  he  is  perfect  in  the  theory 
of  navigation,"  Mr.  Fluxion  explained.  "  You  will 
divide  your  authority  with  no  one,  Mr.  O'Hara.  I 
shall  send  boatswain  Shakings  of  this  vessel  with  you 
to  look  out  for  your  rigging." 

"  What  are  my  orders  in  case  the  vessels  should  be 


134  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

separated  ?  "  asked  the  young  commander  of  the  Ville 
d' Angers,  though  he  was  a  year  older  than  a  young 
man  we  knew  who  had  the  full  command  of  a  thou- 
sand-ton ship  ;  or  another  who  brought  his  bark  safely 
into  port  through  the  worst  storm  of  the  season. 

"  I  suppose  you  would  prefer  to  have  your  steamer 
separated  from  the  rest  of  the  squadron,"  added  Mr. 
Fluxion,  laughing. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  sir ;  but  I  might  have  run  for 
any  port  in  the  world  when  I  had  the  steamer  all  to 
myself:  but,  instead  of  that,  I  went  to  look  for  the 
Tritonia,"  replied  the  captain,  a  little  hurt  by  the  re- 
mark of  the  senior. 

"  You  did  exceedingly  well,  Capt.  O'Hara ;  and  I 
may  add  that  I  have  full  confidence  in  you.  I  know  of 
no  officer  in  the  squadron  whom  I  should  prefer  for 
the  service  to  which  Capt.  Waimvright  first  appointed 
you  ;  and  I  commend  him  for  the  good  judgment  he 
exercised  in  his  selection.  I  only  wonder  that  he  did 
not  appoint  Scott,  who  is  a  prime  favorite  of  his." 

"I  thank  you,  sir,"  replied  O'Hara,  touching  his  cap. 
"  But  Mr.  Scott  is  a  good  officer,  sir." 

"As  good  as  any  in  the  squadron,  but  not  the  best 
for  an  independent  command,"  added  the  senior. 

By  this  time  the  cutter  had  returned  ;  and  the  Jo- 
sephine's portion  of  the  crew  of  the  Ville  d' Angers 
were  sent  on  board.  The  Tritonia's  part  were  already 
on  duty.  As  soon  as  the  boat  was  hoisted  up  at  the 
davits,  the  two  schooners  filled  away.  A  six-knot 
breeze  was  blowing,  and  they  were  soon  at  a  considera- 
ble distance  from  the  steamer ;  for  O'Hara  had  been 
instructed  to  station  his  ship's  company  under  the  new 
arrangement  before  he  got  under  way. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  135 

He  immediately  called  all  hands,  now  consisting  of 
six  officers  and  twenty-four  seamen  beside  himself.  As 
he  had  twelve  hands  in  each  watch,  he  divided  each 
into  quarter-watches.  He  appointed  four  quartermas- 
ters, who  were  to  have  charge  of  the  wheel  under  the 
officer  of  the  deck,  and  a  few  petty  officers  for  other 
duties.  The  state  rooms  were  assigned  to  the  students; 
and  the  regulations  of  the  academy  squadron  declared 
to  be  in  full  force  on  board,  so  far  as  they  were  applic- 
able. 

"  It  is  now  four  bells  in  the  afternoon  watch  ;  and 
the  second  part  of  the  starboard  watch  has  the  deck," 
said  Capt.  O'Hara,  when  all  the  arrangements  had  been 
completed.  "  The  officers  and  seamen  will  take  their 
stations." 

Raymond  was  the  officer  of  the  second  part  of  the 
watch  indicated  ;  and  he  repaired  to  the  pilot-house  to 
assume  his  duties.  The  quartermaster  of  the  second 
part  was  there,  with  a  seaman  to  assist  at  the  wheel. 

"  I  don't  like  this  arrangement, "  said  Gregory,  the 
first  officer,  who  had  been  fourth  lieutenant  of  the 
Josephine,  as  he  followed  the  captain  forward. 

"  I  am  sorry  you  don't,  Mr.  Gregory,"  replied 
O'Hara,  rather  coldly. 

"  I  don't  think  there  is  any  need  of  quarter-watches 
in  this  steamer,"  acldtd  the  first  officer,  with  more 
emphasis  than  before. 

'•  I  don't  think  so  either,"  chimed  in  Clinch,  the  third 
master  of  the  Josephine. 

"That  shows  that  we  differ  in  opinion  a  little  taste," 
returned  O'Hara  with  a  smile.  "  You  may  start  her 
now,  Mr.  Raymond,"  continued  the  captain,  when  he 
came  to  the  pilot-house. 


136  ISLES   OF  THE   SEA  j    OR, 

"  Start  her,  sir,"  repeated  Raymond.  "  One  bell, 
quartermaster." 

"  One  bell,  sir,"  returned  the  quartermaster,  as  he 
pulled  the  handle  on  the  wheel-frame. 

The  screw  began  to  turn  slowly,  and  the  Ville 
d'Angers  went  ahead.  A  few  minutes  later  the  speed 
bell  was  rung,  and  the  steamer  increased  her  rate  to 
something  like  ten  knots  an  hour,  though  she  was 
capable  of  making  twelve  or  more.  But  a  thick  fog 
had  settled  down  upon  the  ocean,  and  nothing  could  be 
seen  of  the  rest  of  the  little  fleet.  The  captain  ordered 
the  regular  fog-signal  to  be  sounded  at  intervals,  and 
a  sharp  lookout  to  be  kept  for  the  other  vessels. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  137 


CHAPTER  X. 

SOMETHING  ABOUT   THE    MADEIRA   ISLANDS. 

ON  board  of  the  Josephine  and  the  Tritonia,  the 
number  sent  away  rendered  it  necessary  to  re- 
organize the  watches.  While  the  vice-principals  were 
attending  to  this  duty,  the  wind  suddenly  changed,  so 
that  the  vessels  could  not  lay  their  course  ;  and  it  had 
headed  them  off  till  they  were  standing  nearly  to  the 
southward.  At  the  same  time  the  fog  shut  out  the 
Ville  d'Angers  from  view.  For  a  time  after  the  course 
had  been  changed,  the  fog-signals  of  the  steamer  were 
heard  ;  and  then  they  ceased. 

As  the  steamer  was  not  disturbed  by  the  change  of 
wind,  Mr.  Fluxion  feared  she  would  run  ahead  of  the 
little  squadron,  and  lose  sight  of  her  associates.  He 
directed  the  captain  to  tack  after  the  Josephine  had 
run  some  five  miles  to  the  southward,  so  as  to  keep 
somewhere  on  the  track  of  the  steamer.  The  fog  was 
very  deep  and  dense,  and  he  wondered  that  the  Ville 
•had  ceased  to  whistle.  He  was  not  prepared  to  believe 
that  the  captain  of  the  steamer  would  wilfully  run 
away  from  her  consorts  ;  and  the  situation  puzzled  him. 
The  Tritonia  was  near  enough  to  hear  the  signals  of 
the  other  schooner;  and  there,  was  little  danger  of 


138  ISLES    OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

losing,  sight  of  each  other  unless  heavy  weather  came 
on,  of  which  there  were  some  indications. 

The  captains  had  consulted  their  barometers  as  soon 
as  the  watches  had  been  re-arranged.  Waimvright  was 
astonished  to  observe  a  considerable  fall  of  the  instru- 
ment ;  and  he  immediately  reported  the  fact  to  Mr. 
Pelham,  and  Capt.  Vroome  did  the  same  to  Mr. 
Fluxion.  Every  preparation  was  at  once  made  for 
heavy  weather  ;  and  they  had  it  before  dark. 

While  the  fog  was  still  hanging  over  the  ocean,  the 
wind  began  to  come  in  heavy  gusts,  and  all  the  light 
sails  were  hastily  taken  in.  Just  after  dark  the  fog 
lifted,  or  was  driven  to  seaward  by  the  strong  breeze. 
The  vice-principals  looked  anxiously  for  the  lights  of 
the  Ville  d' Angers  ;  but  nothing  could  be  seen  of  them 
in  any  direction.  During  the  night  the  wind  blew  a 
fierce  gale  from  the  southward.  At  daylight  the  gale 
had  moderated,  but  the  fog  settled  down  on  the  water 
again.  Nothing  was  seen  or  heard  of  the  steamer. 
For  three  days  more,  in  all  sorts  of  weather,  though 
the  wind  was  generally  contrary,  the  schooners  con- 
tinued on  their  course,  and  then  arrived  safely  at 
Funchal. 

"  There  is  the  Prince  at  anchor  off  the  Loo  Rock ! " 
exclaimed  Mr.  Pelham,  as  the  Tritonia  approached  the 
town  of  Funchal. 

"  That's    an   odd-looking   rock,"  added    Scott,  who 
heard  the  remark.     "  It  looks  like  the  head  of  the  sea-* 
serpent,  with  a  fort  built  on  the  top  of  his  cranium." 

"  That  fort  commands  the  harbor,  if  we  can  call  this 
a  harbor  when  it  has  no  shelter  from  any  storm  from 
the  east  or  south,  where  most  of  the  tempests  of  this 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  139 

region  come  from,"  continued  the  vice-principal,  who 
had  been  at  these  islands  before.  "  The  rock  is 
seventy  feet  high  ;  and  the  Portuguese  have  made  it 
impossible  to  climb  up  its  steep  sides,  except  by  the 
steps  opposite  the  island.  The  top  of  it  is  three  hun- 
dred feet  long  by  a  hundred  wide ;  and  this  space  is 
covered  by  a  fort,  mounting  fourteen  guns,  which  is 
always  kept  garrisoned,  as  a  sort  of  regulator  of  the 
vessels  in  the  roadstead.  If  they  don't  obey  orders, 
and  follow  the  rules  of  the  port,  a  gun  from  that  fort 
will  remind  them  of  the  neglect;  and  any  attempt  to 
evade  them  will  bring  a  shot." 

"  There  is  a  mole,  or  something  of  that  kind,"  added 
Scott,  who  was  off  duty,  and  was  privileged  to  observe 
the  wonders  of  the  shore. 

"  That  is  the  Pontinha.  It  is  a  sort  of  breakwater, 
though  it  affords  no  great  protection  to  vessels,  which 
are  sometimes  obliged  to  get  up  their  anchors,  and 
work  out  to  sea,  to  avoid  being  cast  upon  the  rocks. 
It  is  an  embankment  built  out  to  a  small  island  on 
which  is  the  fort  of  San  Jose.  You  see  that  the  ves- 
sels behind  the  Loo  Rock  are  moored  in  a  line.  They 
are  made  fast  to  heavy  cables,  secured  by  iron  bolts 
to  the  rock  at  the  bow,  while  a  stern  line  is  carried  to 
the  shore  of  the  main  island.  The  bottom  is  very 
rocky,  and  the  holding  ground  is  not  good." 

All  hands  were  called  to  be  ready  to  moor  ship  ;  but 
even  this  \vas  not  allowable  until  the  health  officers 
had  visited  the  schooners,  and  a  government  boat  had 
been  alongside.  When  these  formalities  were  all  com- 
pleted, the  two  vessels  hauled  in  beside  the  American 
Prince,  and  were  moored  like  the  other  craft. 


140  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

As  soon  as  the  rules  of  the  port  would  permit  it, — 
for  no  vessel  can  communicate  with  the  shore,  or  with 
another  vessel,  until  the  proper  permits  are  obtained, 
—  the  vice-principals  went  on  board  of  the  Prince  to 
report  to  the  principal,  who  of  course  had  no  intima- 
tion of  the  stirring  events  which  had  transpired  on  the 
passage  from  Gibraltar.  The  boat's  crew  that  pulled 
them  to  the  steamer  boarded  the  Prince  ;  and  the  stu- 
dents, told  the  story  of  the  Ville  d' Angers,  though  the 
Princes  had  nothing  of  interest  to  relate  in  return,  for 
the  ship  had  not  sailed  till  the  violence  of  the  storm 
had  abated,  and  had  made  a  tolerably  comfortable 
voyage. 

The  Princes  thought  the  fellows  in  the  picked-up 
steamer  were  having  a  jolly  time  of  it ;  and  most  of 
them  were  willing  to  believe  they  had  taken  it  into 
their  heads  to  go  off  on  a  cruise  by  themselves,  and 
would  return  when  they  got  ready.  Scott  defended 
O'Hara  from  the  implied  charges  against  him,  and  was 
confident  the  Ville  cl'Angers  would  soon  arrive. 

"It  will  be  a  big  lark  for  those  fellows,"  insisted 
McLane,  the  fourth  lieutenant  of  the  Prince. 

"  It's  no  lark  at  all,  Mack,"  replied  Scott.  "  O'Hara 
is  a  countryman  of  yours,  and  you  judge  him  by  your- 
self." 

"That's  so!"  exclaimed  McLane.  "If  I  had  the 
command  of  a  fine  steamer  like  the  Ville  d'Angers,  I 
don't  think  I  should  hurry  to  get  into  port  with 
her." 

"  That  will  do  for  you,  but  not  for  O'Hara.  When 
he  gets  out  to  sea  he  knows  the  way  back,"  added 
Scott. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  141 

"  You  won't  see  that  steamer  for  a  week  at  the  least," 
persisted  McLane. 

"  I  can't  say  that  we  shall ;  but,  if  we  don't,  it  will 
not  be  for  any  fault  of  O'Hara." 

"  If  it  were  my  case,  I  would  take  the  steamer  to 
New  York,  stopping  at  the  '  Isles  of  the  Sea '  on  the 
way,  making  sure  that  I  kept  out  of  the  way  of  the 
academy  squadron  all  the  time,"  continued  the  lieu- 
tenant of  the  Prince. 

"  It's  easy  enough  for  you  to  tell  what  you  would  do, 
Mack  ;  but  the  principal  knows  you  well  enough  not  to 
trust  you  with  a  mud-scow,  to  say  nothing  of  a  fine 
steamer  like  the  Ville  d'Angers," 

"  Don't  you  think  I  could  handle  a  steamer  as  well 
as  O'Hara?  "  demanded  the  Prince,  a  little  nettled  by 
the  raillery  of  the  Tritonia. 

"  Perhaps  you  could  ;  but  you  couldn't  find  your  way 
to  the  port  named  in  your  orders,  according  to  your 
own  confession." 

"  Well,  O'Hara  hasn't  done  it  yet." 

"  But  he  will  do  it,  unless  there  is  some  good  reason 
to  prevent  him  from  doing  so." 

This  sort  of  banter  continued  till  the  vice-principals 
came  out  of  the  main  cabin  with  Mr.  Lowington.  The 
principal  of  the  squadron  had  listened  with  the  deepest 
interest  to  the  narration  of  the  subordinate  officials. 
When  he  was  informed  that  thirty-one  of  the  students 
were  on  board  of  the  steamer,  on  their  way  to  the 
Madeiras,  or  roaming  at  their  own  pleasure  over  the 
ocean,  he  looked  very  anxious  and  troubled.  The  fact 
that  Mr.  Frisbone  was  with  them  afforded  him  some 
relief. 


142  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

"  I  am  rather  sorry  that  one  of  you  had  not  gone 
with  them,"  added  he,  fixing  his  gaze  upon  the"  cabin 
floor. 

"  Possibly  one  of  us  might,  if  our  experience  on  the 
day  we  sailed  from  Gibraltar  had  not  taught  us  better," 
replied  Mr.  Fluxion  ;  who,  as  the  senior  vice-principal, 
was  responsible  for  all  that  had  been  done  after  the 
Ville  d'Angers  overhauled  the  Josephine.  "I  thought 
Mr.  Pelham  was  very  indiscreet  to  leave  his  vessel, 
even  to  board  mine  on  business,  and  I  was  not  disposed 
to  have  the  mistake  repeated." 

This  statement  brought  in  the  earlier  history  of  the 
eventful  cruise,  and  the  junior  vice-principal  delivered 
the  letter  from  Judge  Rodwood  to  the  principal.  He 
read  it,  and  then  listened  to  the  account  of  Tom  Speers's 
running  away  from  the  fortune  in  store  for  him. 

"The  judge  can  have  Speers  as  soon  as  he  wants 
him,"  added  Mr.  Lowington.  "  A  student  with  three 
millions  behind  him,  and  a  letter  of  credit  for  four  thou- 
sand dollars  in  his  pocket,  is  a  nuisance." 

"I  think  not,  sir,  in  this  case,"  interposed  Mr.  Pel- 
ham.  "  Speers  is  a  very  ambitious  young  man  :  he 
jumped  from  the  steerage  to  first  master  of  the  Tritonia, 
and  contrived  to  avoid  going  to  London  to  meet  Judge 
Rodwood  because  he  was  not  willing  to  leave  the 
vessel.  He  desires  to  finish  his  course ;  and  there  is 
not  a  better  sailor  or  a  more  faithful  student  in  the 
squadron." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  you  speak  so  well  of  him  ;  but 
this  letter  contains  a  request  that  he  be  discharged 
from  the  academy,  and  be  sent  to  London.  I  am  asked 
to  telegraph  that  he  is  on  his  way." 


YOUNG  AMERICA   HOMEWARD   BOUND.  143 

"  It  is  too  late  to  do  any  thing  of  that  kind  now," 
added  Mr.  Pelham.  "  Speers  did  not  open  the  letter 
which  enclosed  this  one  till  the  Tritonia  was  at  sea ; 
and  he  did  not  open  the  telegraph  despatch  for  the 
reason  that  he  did  not  believe  it  was  for  him." 

"  He  has  managed  it  very  well.  This  letter  contains 
a  request  from  his  former  and  from  his  present  guard- 
ian ;  but  the  young  man  is  not  here,  and  I  cannot 
discharge  him.  Should  I  do  so,  it  is  not  probable  that 
he  would  find  his  guardian  in  London  if  I  sent  him 
there  :  I  shall  therefore  do  nothing  till  I  receive  further 
instructions,"  continued  the  principal.  "But  this  is  a 
matter  of  little  consequence  compared  with  the  cruise 
of  this  French  steamer." 

Again  the  principal  inquired  into  all  the  circum- 
stances of  the  parting  of  the  vessels  in  the  fog.  Both 
of  the  vice-principals  assured  him  that  the  captain  of 
the  Ville  d' Angers  was  an  entirely  reliable  student  in 
every  respect,  and  that  he  was  too  high-toned  to  go  off 
on  an  independent  cruise. 

"I  supposed  the  steamer  had  got  in  ahead  of  us 
while  we  were"  standing  to  the  southward,  and  that  we 
should  find  her  in  Funchal  on  our  arrival,"  explained 
Mr.  Fluxion. 

"  If  that  were  the  case,  she  ought  to  have  been  here 
yesterday,"  replied  the  principal.  "  What  do  you  sup- 
pose can  have  detained  her  ?  " 

"  I  can  imagine  a  dozen  circumstances  which  may 
have  delayed  her,  and  none  of  them  may  be  the  proper 
explanation,"  answered  the  senior  vice-principal. 
"  There  was  a  smart  gale  in  the  night,  after  we  parted ; 
but  I  can  hardly  conceive  of  such  a  thing  as  the  Ville 


144  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

d'Angers,  which  was  a  nearly  new  vessel,  and  sea- 
worthy in  every  respect,  foundering  in  such  a  light 
storm.  She  may  have  broken  her  shaft,  or  deranged 
her  machinery." 

"  That  would  compel  her  to  come  in  under  sail," 
suggested  the  principal. 

"  She  is  well  found  in  every  respect ;  for  I  directed 
Shakings  to  overhaul  her,  and  report  to  me.  But  it 
may  take  her  two  or  three  days  longer  than  it  has  the 
schooners  to  get  here.  The  officers  may  have  had 
trouble  with  the  foreign  firemen,  for  I  think  they  were 
a  desperate  set  of  villains.  But  Mr.  Frisbone,  Shak- 
ings, Rimmer,  the  cook,  and  two  stewards,  make  six 
full-grown  men  ;  and  some  of  the  students  are  about 
equal  to  able-bodied  men  :  so  that,  if  there  has  been  a 
fight  on  board,  I  am  confident  our  side  has  got  the  best 
of  it,"  continued  Mr.  Fluxion,  who  was  a  muscular 
Christian,  and  rather  enjoyed  the  idea  of  reducing  the 
firemen  to  a  proper  state  of  subjection  if  they  attempted 
to  put  on  airs. 

"  Raymond,  the  fourth  officer,  is  as  brave  a  fellow 
as  ever  trod  a  deck  ;  and  I  will  match  him  against  any 
two  of  those  firemen,"  added  Mr.  Pelham,  who  also 
had  some  taste  for  a  fight  in  a  good  cause. 

"I  sincerely  hope  that  nothing  of  the  kind  has 
occurred  on  board  of  the  steamer,"  said  Mr.  Lowing- 
ton,  who  was  thoroughly  a  man  of  peace,  and  justified 
no  fighting  that  could  possibly  be  avoided. 

"  I  don't  think  any  thing  of  the  kind  has  occurred, 
and  I  mentioned  it  only  as  a  possibility.  It  is  more 
probable  that  some  derangement  of  the  machinery  of 
the  vessel  had  delayed  her ;  and  I  shall  expect  her  to 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  145 

come  into  port  within  two  or  three  days,"  continued 
Mr.  Fluxion.  "In  the  mean  time,  the  students  on 
board  are  pursuing  their  studies,  so  that  there  will  be 
no  time  lost." 

The  vice-principals  returned  to  their  respective  ves- 
sels ;  but  the  principal  could  not  help  being  very  anx- 
ious for  the  safety  of  the  thirty-one  students  on  board 
of  the  Ville  d'Angers.  Possibly  he  was  not  so  confident 
as  his  junior  officers  that  the  young  men  had  not  gone 
"on  a  lark"  in  the  vessel.  While  this  conversation 
was  going  on,  the  signal,  "  All  hands  attend  lecture," 
had  been  displayed  on  board  of  the  steamer.  All  the 
boats  were  in  the  water,  and  the  students  were  soon 
assembled  in  the  American  Prince.  As  usual,  there 
was  a  large  map  of  the  country  to  be  described,  hung 
where  all  the  pupils  could  see  it.  In  this  instance  it 
was  a  map  of  the  Madeira  Islands,  drawn  on  a  large 
scale  by  the  professor  himself.  Mr.  Mapps  stood  by 
it  with  a  long  pointer  in  his  hand,  when'  the  students 
took  their  places. 

"  The  Madeiras  are  a  group  of  five  islands,"  the 
professor  began,  flourishing  the  pointer  over  the  map 
to  attract  the  attention  of  his  audience.  "  They  are 
some  six  hundred  miles  from  Lisbon,  four  hundred 
from  the  nearest  part  of  the  African  coast,  and  five 
hundred  from  the  nearest  of  the  Azores.  The  princi- 
pal island  is  called  Madeira,  from  which  Porto  Santo, 
the  only  other  island  of  any  importance,  is  only  thirty- 
five  miles  distant.  The  other  three  islands  are  called 
the  Desertas  :  they  are  merely  uninhabited  rocks. 

"  Madeira  and  Porto  Sarito  contain  an  area  of  three 
hundred  and  seventeen  square  miles,  which  is  equal  to 


146  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  j    OR, 

about  one-fourth  of  the  State  of  Rhode  Island ;  and 
contain  a  population  of  one  hundred  and  sixteen  thou- 
sand inhabitants,  or  about  half  that  of  the  same  State. 

"  Both  of  the  inhabited  islands  are  mountainous  in 
their  structure,  and  are  mostly  bordered  by  steep  cliffs 
on  the  sea.  Soundings  are  obtained  by  the  ordinary 
deep-sea  lead  only  close  to  the  shore ;  and  even  there 
the  water  is  over  two  hundred  feet  deep.  Though  the 
island  is  of  volcanic  origin,  only  one  crater  is  to  be 
found  in  the  mountains.  The  greatest  elevation  is 
about  six  thousand  feet. 

"  Funchal  is  the  principal  town,  and  has  about  twenty 
thousand  inhabitants.  Its  principal  business  is  in 
wine  and  fruit.  In  later  years  the  vine  has  failed  to  a 
great  extent,  and  the  commerce  of  the  island  has  been 
greatly  reduced.  Many  of  the  inhabitants  are  in  a 
state  of  destitution ;  and  beggars  are  more  common 
here  than  in  most  of  the  countries  of  Europe. 

"These  islands,  as  well  as  the  Western,  or  Azores, 
are  dependencies  of  the  kingdom  of  Portugal.  They 
are  represented  in  the  legislature  of  that  country,  and 
have,  besides,  a  local  government  of  their  own.  The 
currency  of  the  islands  is  the  same  as  that  of  Portugal ; 
and  you  will  find  here  most  of  the  manners  and  cus- 
toms of  that  country.  Possibly  some  of  you  will  think 
you  have  been  here  before.  The  city,  like  Messina  in 
Sicily,  which  you  will  remember,  is  built  on  a  small 
plain,  watered  by  three  little  streams  that  rise  in  the 
interior  of  the  island,  or  on  the  surrounding  hills. 
Indeed,  the  island  is  very  like  Sicily. 

"  One  of  the  great  natural  curiosities  of  Madeira  is 
the  Coural,  or  Curral,  as  different  writers  call  it.  It 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  147 

is  an  immense  chasm,  with  perpendicular  sides,  thirteen 
hundred  feet  deep.  It  is  near  the  middle  of  the  island  ; 
and,  if  the  time  permits,  I  believe  you  will  take  a  walk 
to  it ;  for  there  are  no  carriages  in  the  country,  or  any 
roads  that  are  practicable  for  them.  People  who  can 
not  or  will  not  walk  have  to  be  transported  by  man- 
power. In  some  parts  they  slide  down  the  steep  hills 
on  sleds,  as  boys  coast  on  the  snow  at  home.  The 
roads  most  travelled  are  paved  with  cobble-stones,  or 
the  heavy  rains  would  wash  them  entirely  away ;  and 
they  are  thus  made  the  smoother  for  the  sleds.  A 
kind  of  sled,  called  a'buey  cart,'  drawn  by  oxen,  is 
also  used  to  some  extent-  A  hammock  swung  on  a 
long  pole,  the  ends  of  which  are  borne  on  the  shoulders 
of  two  men,  would  seem  to  be  the  most  natural  con- 
veyance for  a  sailor. 

"  You  will  have  an  opportunity  to  see  the  country 
and  the  city  for  yourselves,  and  I  will  not  describe 
them  to  you.  The  people  are  very  gentlemanly  and 
polite,  though  I  believe  they  are  no  more  given  to  hard 
work  than  the  natives  of  the  mother  country.  The 
island  is  a  great  resort  for  invalids,  especially  those 
with  pulmonary  complaints ;  and  the  same  is  true  of 
the  Azores.  The  average  temperature  is  sixty-four 
degrees.  A  hot  south-west  wind,  which  comes  over 
from  the  great  desert  of  Africa,  sometimes  carries  the 
mercury  up  to  eighty  degrees,  though  the  heat  in  sum- 
mer rarely  exceeds  seventy.  But  the  quality  of  the 
climate  depends  upon  the  uniformity  of  its  tempera- 
ture. There  are  no  sudden  changes ;  and  one  month 
will  not  differ  from  the  one  before  more  than  two  or 
three  degrees.  But  Dr.  Winstock,  who  spent  a  winter 


148  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

in  the  island,  informs  me  that  he  has  seen  some  very 
disagreeable  weather  here." 

Professor  Mapps  finished  his  brief  lecture,  leaving 
much  to  be  learned  by  the  students  in  their  walks  about 
the  city  and  the  island.  The  boats  of  the  Tritonia  and 
Josephine  returned ;  and  what  was  left  of  the  day  was 
used  by  the  officers  and  seamen  in  looking  at  the 
strange  sights  that  might  be  seen  from  the  decks  of  the 
vessels. 

As  the  squadron  was  to  remain  some  days  at  Fun- 
chal,  study  and  recitations  were  not  entirely  suspended  ; 
but,  as  both  watches  could  be  engaged  at  the  same 
time,  the  full  routine  was  completed  at  one  o'clock,  and 
the  rest  of  the  day  was  improved  on  shore.  Dr.  Win- 
stock  took  under  his  care  for  the  excursion,  Sheridan 
and  Murray  of  the  Prince,  and  Wainwright  and  Scott 
of  the  Tritonia. 

"This  is  a  rough  harbor  for  a  commercial  town," 
said  Capt.  Sheridan,  as  he  landed  from  the  boat,  and 
looked  back  to  survey  the  beach,  on  which  the  sea  was 
breaking  with  considerable  force. 

"  It  is  a  very  poor  harbor,"  replied  the  doctor. 
"  Sometimes  the  sea  is  so  high  in  the  roadstead,  that  it 
is  not  safe  for  vessels  to  lie"  at  anchor ;  and  a  govern- 
ment boat  goes  to  them,  and  advises  them  to  get  to 
sea." 

"What  sort  of  a  boat  do  you  call  that? "  asked  Scott, 
as  he  pointed  to  a  very  handsome  barge  near  the  shore. 
"  The  sailors  have  coalhods,  with  marline  spikes  stick- 
ing out  of  the  tops." 

"That  is  a  government  boat,  as  you  may  see  by  the 
uniform  of  the  officers  in  it.  The  cap  of  the  boatmen 


YOUNG  AMERICA   HOMEWARD   BOUND.  149 

looks  something  like  an  inverted  tunnel.  But  they 
have  a  nice  time  of  it  under  that  awning." 

The  doctor's  party  by  his  advice  had  decided  to  use 
their  first  half-day  on  shore  in  making  a  visit  to  the 
church  of  "  Nossa  Senhora  do  Monte,"  or  "Our  Lady  of 
the  Mountain,"  which  is  located  on  a  hill  nearly  two 
thousand  feet  above  the  sea.  The  place  affords  a 
beautiful  view  of  Funchal  and  its  surroundings.  It  was 
an  up-hill  walk ;  but  most  of  the  ascent  was  gradual, 
though  a  portion  of  it  was  very  steep.  On  the  way 
they  had  an  opportunity  to  see  some  of  the  modes  of 
conveyance  mentioned  by  the  professor  of  geography 
and  history. 

"  It  don't  seem  to  me  that  I  should  feel  very  com- 
fortable to  have  men  carrying  me  about  the  island," 
said  Murray,  as  he  stopped  to  see  one  of  the  ham- 
mocks, which  was  not  unlike  a  palanquin.  "  I  should 
feel  as  though  I  were  a  burden  upon  my  own  kind." 

"  They  have  very  good  horses  here,  though  they  are 
rather  small,  —  about  the  size  of  those  they  use  for  the 
ascent  of  Mount  Vesuvius." 

At  last  the  church  was  reached  after  a  most  fatiguing 
tramp,  for  the  students  had  not  got  on  their  land  legs. 
Most  of  the  way,  the  road,  paved  with  cobble-stones, 
was  enclosed  by  a  wall  over  which  none  of  the  party 
were  tall  enough  to  see ;  and  this  made  the  walk  dis- 
mal at  times,  though  they  always  had  a  view  when  look- 
ing behind  them.  But  this  wall  was  covered  with 
vines  ;  and,  as  it  was  spring-time,  the  air  was  laden  with 
the  perfume  of  flowers. 

There  is  nothing  about  the  church  worth  seeing;  and 
the  business  of  the  day  was  concluded  by  ascending 


150  ISLES    OF   THE   SEA  j    OR, 

one  of  the  two  towers  that  crown  the  building,  where 
the  party  remained  till  sunset.  The  church  faces  the 
sea ;  and  from  the  elevated  tower  a  panorama  of  a  por- 
tion of  the  city  and  a  great  deal  of  magnificent  scenery 
was  spread  out  before  the  observers  ;  and  they  returned 
to  their  vessels  delighted  with  the  excursion. 

Mr.  Lowington  was  pacing  the  quarter-deck  of  the 
Prince  when  the  students  returned ;  and  it  was  observed 
that  he  cast  frequent  glances  to  seaward  in  search  of 
the  missing  steamer,  but  she  did  not  put  in  an  appear- 
ance in  the  offing  that  night. 


YOUNG  AMERICA   HOMEWARD   BOUND. 


CHAPTER  XL 

BUDDING   VINES   AND   ORANGE-GROVES. 

r  I  ^HE  night  passed  away,  and  the  morning,  and  the 
JL  Ville  d'Angers  did  not  appear  off  the  island. 
The  principal  had  a  long  and  anxious  conference  with 
Mr.  Fluxion.  There  was  only  one  thing  it  was  possible 
to  do,  and  that  was  to  send  the  Prince  in  search  of  the 
missing  steamer  ;  but  it  was  decided  to  wait  a  day  or 
two  longer  before  this  was  done. 

The  next  afternoon  the  doctor  and  his  little  party 
landed  in  the  city,  and  began  to  explore  the  place. 
After  months  of  constant  sight-seeing,  they  found  little 
in  the  way  of  public  buildings,  squares,  or  streets,  to 
engnge  their  attention,  and  were  more  inclined  to  get 
out  into  the  country  among  the  budding  flowers  and 
orange-groves. 

"That's  one  of  the  carts  we  read  of,"  said  Scott, 
laughing,  as  he  stopped  to  view  a  sort  of  sled  on  which 
a  yoke  of  small  oxen  were  hauling  a  pipe  of  wine. 

"  It  is  one  of  the  kind  we  see  in  Funchal,  and  else- 
where in  the  island,"  replied  the  doctor.  "Wheels  are 
not  practicable  among  these  hills  ;  and  I  am  not  sure 
that  this  thing  pulls  any  harder  than  the  car  with  the 
revolving  axle  which  we  saw  in  Portugal." 


152  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  j    OR, 

"  It  certainly  does  not  make  any  more  music,"  added 
Murray,  referring  to  the  hideous  screeching  of  the  cart 
they  had  seen  in  Lisbon. 

The  sled  was  something  like  a  "  stone-drag  "  used  in 
the  New  England  States.  It  was  a  plank  eight  feet 
long  and  a  foot  and  a  half  wide,  hollowed  in  the  middle 
so  that  a  wine-cask  will  fit  into  it.  It  was  four  inches 
thick,  and  pointed  off  at  the  bow  like  a  boat.  Under 
it  were  two  wooden  runners.  While  the  students  were 
looking  at  it,  and  while  the  driver  was  still  yelling  with 
all  his  might  at  his  diminutive  cattle,  a  boy  threw  a  sort 
of  mop  made  of  rope-yarns,  which  he  had  just  dipped 
into  a  puddle  of  water,  under  the  forward  end  of  the 
sled.  The  runners  passed  over  it,  wetting  the  bottoms, 
thus  making  them  run  a  little  easier,  and  removing  the 
danger  of  fire  from  friction. 

"  This  is  the  Praca  Constitutional,  a  very  common 
name  for  a  square  in  Spain  and  Portugal.  It  was 
formerly  the  '  Praca  da  Rainha,'  or  Queen  Square ; 
but  the  Constitution  is  more  popular  than  the  Queen." 

From  the  square  the  party  passed  into  the  market- 
place adjoining  it.  Provisions,  vegetables,  fruit,  prov- 
ender for  horses,  and  wood  were  the  articles  on  sale. 
It  was  just  such  a  sight  as  they  had  seen  in  Lisbon, 
and  the  venders  were  yelling  their  wares  vigorously 
when  any  one  that  looked  like  a  buyer  came  in  sight. 
One  man  had  a  pole  on  his  shoulder,  on  which  were 
hung  by  the  legs  a  dozen  pairs  of  chickens,  all  alive, 
and  kicking  to  the  extent  of  their  ability.  Another  had 
pigeons ;  but  he  had  considerately  killed  them  before 
he  suspended  them  on  the  pole.  The  one  who  drove  a 
single  pig  had  about  the  same  luck  with  him  as  any 
other  attempting  this  difficult  feat. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  153 

"  Drive  him  the  other  way !  "  shouted  Scott  to  the 
Portuguese,  pointing  behind  the  driver. 

"  He  don't  understand  you,"  interposed  the  doctor, 
translating  the  remark  into  Portuguese. 

The  man  laughed  as  though  he  had  heard  the  joke 
before  ;  but  he  did  not  adopt  the  suggestion. 

"  What's  the  use  of  that  brush  they  have  tied  up  in 
bundles  ?  "  asked  Sheridan,  as  they  paused  before  a 
vender  of  this  sort  of  merchandise. 

"  The  bakers  and  others  use  it  to  heat  their  ovens," 
replied  Dr.  Winstock.  "  Wood  is  a  very  scarce  article 
in  Madeira,  though  the  name  of  the  island  in  Portu- 
guese means  '  wood.'  There  is  little  or  no  need  of  fuel 
here,  except  for  cooking  purposes.  Those  bundles  of 
little  sticks  are  not  much  better  than  the  fagots.  All 
the  coal  has  to  be  brought  from  other  countries ;  and 
that  makes  it  very  expensive.  The  wealthier  people 
and  the  boarding-houses  use  it." 

"  Boarding  the  invalids  that  come  here  must  be  a 
great  business  among  the  people,"  said  Wainwright,  as 
they  passed  a  group  of  pale  consumptives,  seated  in 
the  sun  on  the.  Praca. 

"  It  is  a  very  important  item  of  the  business  of  the 
island." 

"  Do  you  think  it  does  them  any  good  to  come 
here  ?  "  asked  Scott. 

"  Undoubtedly  it  does  ;  though,  if  you  visit  the  ceme- 
teries, you  will  find  a  great  many  English  and  Ameri- 
can names  on  the  gravestones.  The  great  difficulty  is 
that  those  troubled  with  pulmonary  diseases  come  when 
it  is  too  late  for  the  climate  to  benefit  them." 

The   party  passed  into  the  principal  street  of  the 


154  ISLES    OF   THE   SEA  j    OR, 

town,  which  was  not  more  than  twenty-five  feet  wide, 
and  it  was  a  broad  thoroughfare  for  Funchal. 

"  Every  gentleman  seems  to  be  acquainted  with  every 
lady  he  meets,"  said  Sheridan,  as  they  made  their  way 
through  the  crowded  street. 

"  That  remark  applies  only  to  the  native  gentlemen  ; 
and  it  is  the  custom  for  them  to  lift  their  hats  to  every 
lady,  they  meet,"  replied  the  surgeon. 

"  I  suppose  that  is  done  to  make  business  for  the 
hatters,"  added  Scott. 

"  No  :  the  Portuguese  are  even  more  polite  than  the 
French,  so  far  as  these  outward  expressions  are  con- 
cerned ;  but  I  doubt  whether  either  would  do  as  much 
for  a  lady  who  really  needed  assistance  as  Americans 
or  Englishmen,"  continued  the  doctor.  "  I  can't  say 
that  I  like  to  see  gentlemen  bowing  to  ladies  who  are 
entire  strangers  to  them.  It  is  making  themselves  alto- 
gether too  familiar,  though  the  custom  of  the  country 
may  justify  almost  any  thing." 

"  This  looks  like  Spain,"  said  Wainwright,  pointing 
to  a  lot  of  men  from  the  country,  who  were  driving  three 
or  four  donkeys  each,  leaded  with  skins  filled  with 
wine.  ' "  They  leave  the  legs  of  the  goats  on  for 
handles." 

"  Those  sacks  look  something  like  a  goat,"  added 
Murray.  "  I  wonder  how  they  can  sew  them  up  tight 
enough  to  prevent  them  from  leaking." 

"  They  can  roll  the  edges  of  the  skins  together  a  lit- 
tle when  they  join  them,  and  sew  through  four  thick- 
nesses of  the  skin,"  replied  the  doctor. 

"  Is  that  Madeira  wine  in  those  sacks  ? "  inquired 
Murray. 


YOUNG   AMERICA   HOMEWARD    BOUND.  155 

"  Probably  not ;  for  that  is  a  scarce  article,  even  in 
this  island,  at  the  present  time.  Porto  Santo,  or  Holy 
Port,  was  the  first  island  discovered  and  settled.  Colum- 
bus lived  there  for  a  time  ;  and  his  house  is  still  shown. 
He  married  his  wife  there.  The  discovery  and  settle- 
ment of  Madeira  followed  soon  after ;  and  two  years 
later  the  Portuguese  brought  from  Candia  or  Crete  a 
vine  which  proved  to  be  admirably  adapted  to  the  cli- 
mate. The  wine  made  from  it  became  celebrated  all 
over  the  civilized  world.  Like  port  and  sherry,  it  ob- 
tained its  peculiar  flavor  from  the  kind  of  grape  of 
which  it  was  made.  Ten  years  ago,  owing  to  the  fail- 
ure of  the  vine-crop,  there  were  only  four  hundred 
pipes  of  it  remaining  in  the  island,  while  twenty-five 
thousand  pipes  had  once  been  the  average  quantity 
manufactured  in  a  year.  The  disease  attacked  the 
vine  nearly  twenty  years  ago  ;  but  the  people  are  doing 
their  best  to  replace  it,  and  doubtless  the  commerce 
and  reputation  of  the  island  will  be  fully  restored. 
Probably  the  greater  portion  of  all  the  wine  sold  for 
Madeira  is  not  such ;  and  not  a  little  of  it  is  manufac- 
tured in  the  shops  where  it  is  sold,  in  England  and 
America." 

The  party  passed  through  the  town,  and  went  out 
into  the  country  on  the  west  side ;  and,  following  the 
road  up  the  hill,  they  reached  the  summit  of  the  "  Pico 
de  Sao  Joao,"  on  which  was  a  fort.  From  this  high 
point  they  obtained  another  view  of  the  city  and  its 
suburbs.  Beyond  the  town  the  shore  of  the  island  was 
composed  of  sheer  precipices,  hundreds  of  feet  in 
height.  Near  them  was  a  "  quinta,"  'or  country-house, 
of  some  wealthy  islander,  to  which  a  beautiful  garden 


156  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

was  attached.  As  they  passed  the  main  gate  of  the 
grounds,  a  gentleman  attending  a  very  pretty  young 
lady  came  out.  Dr.  Winstock  raised  his  cap  to  him, 
and  the  young  officers  followed  his  example. 

The  owner  of  the  "  quinta "  politely  returned  the 
salutation,  and  spoke  to  the  surgeon  in  English  ;  for 
many  of  the  educated  people  of  the  island  speak  this 
language,  and  most  of  the  foreign  commerce  is  carried 
on  with  England.  Two  saddle-horses  were  standing  at 
the  gate,  in  charge  of  as  many  servants  ;  but  the  gen- 
tleman and  his  daughter  —  for  such  was  the  relation 
between  them  —  seemed  to  be  in  no  haste  to  mount 
their  puny  steeds. 

"You  are  English  people,  I  see,"  said  he,  with  a 
pleasant  smile.  "My  house  and  grounds  are  at  your 
service.  This  is  the  quinta  da  Sao  Joao." 

"  I  thank  you  heartily  for  your  courteous  invitation  ; 
but  perhaps  you  may  be  disposed  to  withdraw  it  when 
I  add  that  we  are  not  English,  but  Americans,"  replied 
Dr.  Winstock. 

"  By  no  means !  "  exclaimed  the  gentleman,  whom 
they  afterwards  heard  addressed  as  Don  Roderigue. 
"  I  repeat  it  with  even  more  earnestness  than  before." 

"Thank  you,  sir;  and  we  shall  be  very  happy  to 
avail  ourselves  of  your  permission  to  visit  your  gar- 
dens." 

"  You  are  all  officers,  I  see,"  continued  Don  Roder- 
igue, who  evidently  had  some  Yankee  curiosity. 

"In  one  sense  we  are  :  we  are  all  connected  with  the 
academy  squadron,  now  moored  in  the  port  of  Fun- 
chal." 

The  Portuguese  had  never  heard  of  it ;  and  the  sur- 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  157 

geon  briefly  explained  it,  and  invited  Don  Roderigue 
to  visit  the  ships  of  the  squadron.  He  promised  to  do 
so,  and  he  and  the  young  lady  proceeded  to  mount 
their  horses.  The  father  was  safely  seated  on  his  little 
steed,  and  the  groom  was  assisting  the  daughter  to  the 
saddle,  when  the  little  brute  suddenly  whirled  about 
like  a  top,  and  started  off  at  a  dead  run.  Dona 
Maria's  foot  had  not  been  fairly  placed  in  the  stirrup, 
nor  had  she  taken  the  reins  into  her  hands ;  so  that 
she  was  almost  helpless. 

The  two  grooms  started  after  the  little  horse ;  but, 
the  faster  they  ran,  the  more  intent  the  brute  became 
to  get  away  from  them.  The  father  uttered  an  excla- 
mation of  anguish,  and  galloped  his  horse  in  the  direc- 
tion the  lady's  steed  had  taken.  The  students  were 
almost  paralyzed  with  fear  for  the  safety  of  the  beauti- 
ful girl.  The  runaway  pony  turned  a  corner  at  the  end 
of  the  garden ;  and,  at  this  moment,  Scott  darted 
across  the  grounds,  leaped  over  a  high  wall,  and  came 
into  a  road  in  the  rear  of  the  estate,  the  geography  of 
which  he  had  been  studying  from  the  top  of  the  Pico 
de  Sao  Joao.  He  came  into  the  road  just  ahead  of  the 
horse  ;  and  he  was  a  long  distance  in  advance  of  the 
grooms  and  the  lady's  father.  Dona  Maria  had  evi- 
dently lost  her  footing  in  the  stirrup ;  for  she  had 
slipped  partly  off  the  saddle,  and  was  clinging  with 
both  hands' to  the  pommel. 

Scott  had  thrown  off  his  uniform  coat  -as  he  ran 
across  the  garden,  so  that  he  might  be  free  to  act 
when  he  tackled  the  horse ;  and  he  felt  strong  enough 
just  then  to  throw  him  over  the  high  wall  if  he  could 
get  hold  of  him.  He  sprang  into  the  middle  of  the 


158  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

road  •  and  it  was  nothing  more  than  a  narrow  lane, 
leading  to  the  stables  of  the  estate,  which  the  pony 
seemed  to  prefer  to  an  excursion  in  the  delightful  air  of 
the  afternoon.  The  vicious  little  brute  saw  him,  and 
attempted  to  pass  at  one  side  of  him  ;  but  Scott  was 
quick  enough  to  catch  him  by  the  bridle-rein.  Then 
came  the  tug  of  war ;  for  the  pony  was  not  disposed  to 
be  so  easily  captured,  and  began  to  rear  and  plunge 
to  disengage  himself  from  his  captor.  But  Scott  was 
used  to  horses,  and  held  on.  In  a  moment  he  had 
brought  the  horse  down  sufficiently  to  enable  him  to 
put  his  arm  around  the  waist  of  the  maiden,  and  lift 
her  to  the  ground. 

She  was  out  of  breath,  so  that  she  could  not  speak, 
though  she  gasped  out  some  sentences  in  her  native 
tongue,  which  Scott  could  not  understand.  She  was 
too  weak  to  stand  ;  and  the  gallant  lieutenant  was  com- 
pelled to  hold  her  with  one  arm,  and  the  horse  with 
the  other,  till  assistance  came.  Don  Roderigue  was 
the  first  to  arrive  upon  the  spot.  He  leaped  from  his 
horse,  and  seized  his  daughter  in  his  arms. 

"  Was  she  thrown  from  the  horse  ?  "  he  asked. 
.?       "  No,  sir :  I  don't  think  she  can  be  much  hurt,"  re- 
plied Scott ;  and  he  described  her  position  at  the  mo- 
ment he  had  stopped  the  pony. 

By  this  time  Dona  Maria  was  able  to  speak  for  her- 
self ;  and  Scott  thought  she  had  a  very  musical  voice, 
though,  as  she  spoke  in  Portuguese,  he  could  not  under- 
stand a  word  she  said.  The  gallop  in  that  uncomforta- 
'  ble  position  must  have  jarred  her  frame  considerably. 
The  grooms  came  up,  and  took  charge  of  the  horses. 

"  Young  gentleman,  I  owe  you  very  great  thanks  for 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  159 

the  service  you  have  rendered  to  my  daughter  and  to 
me,"  said  Don  Roderigue,  'extending  his  hand  to  the 
lieutenant. 

"  Don't  mention  it,  sir,"  exclaimed  Scott,  laughing 
at  the  earnestness  of  the  grateful  father.  "We  were 
on  the  top  of  that  pico,  and  I  saw  this  road  leading 
down  to  the  stable.  When  the  horse  started,  I  thought 
it  likely,  as  he  turned  the  first  corner,  that  he  would 
make  for  the  place  where  he  got  his  oats ;  and  I  took 
a  short  cut  over  here.  I  happened  to  be  just  in  the 
nick  of  time  for  business." 

Scott  jabbered  this  off  as  fast  as  he  could,  while  he 
blushed  like  a  red  rose,  apparently  to  interrupt  the 
flow  of  grateful  expressions  to  which  the  gentleman 
was  disposed  to  give  utterance.  When  he  had  finished 
his  explanation  of  the  manner  in  which  he  had  hap- 
pened to  save  the  young  lady  from  a  greater  disaster, 
she  walked  up  to  him,  with  a  sweet  smile  on  her  face, 
and  extended  her  hand  to  him.  He  could  not  do  less 
than  take  it,  though  he  felt  and  looked  very  sheepish 
about  it.  Almost  any  of  the  officers  of  the  squadron 
who  had  passed  the  age  of  sixteen  would  have  been 
delighted  to  take  such  a  little  hand  as  that ;  but  there 
was  not  one  in  the  whole  crowd  who  was  so  little  of  a 
lady's  man  as  Scott.  When  he  took  the  pretty  hand, 
Maria  spoke  to  him  in  Portuguese,  and  shook  his  great 
paw. 

"  Those  are  my  sentiments  exactly ;  and  I  couldn't 
have  said  it  half  as  well  myself,"  he  replied,  with  a 
broad  grin  on  his  face. 

"  Speak  to  him  in  English,  Maria :  he  does  not 
understand  you,"  interposed  Don  Roderigue. 


l6o  ISLES   OF  THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

"  I  shall  thank  you  very  much  for  what  you  have  did 
for  me,"  said  she  laughing,  perhaps  because  Scott  did, 
or  perhaps  at  the  quality  of  her  own  English. 

Scott  bowed,  touched  his  cap,  and  turned  red  again. 
He  was  very  anxious  to  have  the  subject  changed,  and 
insisted  that  Madeira  was  a  fine  country. 

"  I  say  I  shall  tank  you  ver  much  for  what  you  have 
did  for  me,"  repeated  she,  evidently  a  little  vexed. 

'•'  Don't  mention  it.  This  is  a  delightful  climate  you 
have  here  in  Madeira,"  stammered  Scott. 

"  He  don't  understand  my  English,"  pouted  the  little 
beauty,  shaking  her  shoulders  ;  but,  as  she  spoke  in  her 
own  language,  Scott  could  not  understand  her. 

"  Maria  says  she  thanks  you  very  much  for  what  you 
have  done  for  her ;  and  she  is  very  sorry  she  cannot 
make  herself  understood  in  English,"  said  Don  Rod- 
erigue. 

"  I  understood  her  perfectly,"  replied  Scott. 

"  But  you  told  her  not  to  mention  it ;  and  I  am  sure 
that  would  be  very  ungrateful  in  her." 

"  I  only  meant  that  what  I  did  was  not  worth  the 
trouble  of  mentioning  it." 

"  Now  say  it  to  him  again,  Maria,  and  he  will  under- 
stand you,"  continued  her  father. 

"  I  shall  thank  you  very  much  for  what  you  have 
did  for  me,"  added  Maria,  turning  to  Scott,  with  a  mis- 
chievous twinkle  in  her  bright  eyes. 

"  I  understand  you  as  well  as  though  you  had  been 
my  next-door  neighbor  in  the  United  States  of  America 
all  your  lifetime,"  replied  Scott,  with  his  broad  grin. 

"  Oh  !  now  you  spokes  too  much,  and  I  can't  under- 
stand what  you  speaks,"  chattered  the  maiden. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  l6l 

"  I  am  happy  to  please  you,"  said  Scott,  measuring 
off  the  words  one  at  a  time. 

"  She  has  begun  to  learn  English,  and  she  speaks 
very  little  yet,"  added  her  father. 

"  I  am  much  glad,"  shouted  Maria,  dancing  with 
delight  when  she  realized  that  her  English  had  been 
understood.  "  I  shall  forget  you  never." 

"  Beautiful  country  ! "  added  Scott,  flourishing  his 
right  ha.nd  around  him. 

"  Ver  beaut'ful,"  cried  Maria.  "  My  horse,"  and  then 
she  pointed  at  the  pony,  and  made  her  hands  fly  up  and 
down  in  imitation  of  the  feet  of  the  animal. 

"  Ran  away,"  replied  Scott,  completing  the  sentence 
when  she  broke  down. 

"  My  horse  ran  away ! "  she  shouted,  with  childish 
vim,  though  she  was  not  less  than  sixteen.  "  You  stop 
my  horse.  I  thank  you  ver  much  for  what  you  have 
did." 

"  May  I  ride  your  horse  ? "  asked  Scott. 

"  You  ?  ride  horse  ? " 

The  young  officer  then  indicated  what  he  wanted  in 
pantomime.  Don  Roderigue  declared  that  the  pony  had 
always  been  very  gentle,  and  had  never  behaved  so 
badly  before  since  he  was  a  colt.  He  added  that  Scott 
might  ride  him  if  he  wished  to  do  so.  The  joker  leaped 
upon  his  back  as  lightly  as  a  cat ;  but  the  little  beast 
began  to  rear  and  plunge  and  dive  in  the  most  extraor- 
dinary manner.  Scott  was  a  good  horseman,  and  the 
pony  could  not  throw  him. 

"  I  am  confident  something  ails  this  horse,"  said  he, 
dismounting. 

He  then  unbuckled  the  girth,  and  Don  Roderigue 


1 62  ISLES    OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

ordered  the  groom  to  assist  in  the  operation.  The  sad- 
dle was  removed,  and  a  large  spot  of  blood  was  found 
on  the  skin  of  the  horse.  Scott  looked  at  it,  and  found 
a  wound,  made  by  the  sharp  point  of  a  nail  which  had 
been  driven  through  the  wooden  part  of  the  saddle- 
frame. 

"  I  don't  blame  the  horse  for  making  a  row,"  said 
Scott,  as  he  pointed  out  the  wound.  "  Any  horse  would 
make  a  fuss  with  that  nail  sticking  into  him  ;"  and  as 
he  spoke  he  took  his  knife,  and  dug  out  the  offensive 
iron. 

Maria  laughed  and  danced  about  all  the  time ;  and 
when  the  cause  of  the  pony's  misconduct  was  discovered, 
and  shown  to  her,  she  began  to  pet  the  animal  in  the 
most  loving  manner.  She  was  glad  to  find  that  her 
steed  had  a  good  excuse  for  his  bad  behavior.  The 
saddle  was  restored  to  his  back,  and  Scott  mounted 
him  again.  This  time  he  acted  as  well  as  any  pony 
could. 

"  You  ride  ? "  asked  Scott. 

"Yes;  I  ride.". 

Her  father  did  not  object,  and  the  lieutenant  lifted 
her  into  the  saddle.  She  cantered  off  as  briskly  as 
though  nothing  had  happened.  Don  Roderigue  insisted 
that  Scott  should  mount  his  horse,  and  ride  back  to 
the  garden  gate,  where  he  had  left  the  rest  of  the  party. 
In  a  moment  he  overtook  the  lady.  She  chatted  and 
laughed  all  the  way,  and  Scott  felt  more  as  though 
he  had  fallen  into  a  sugar-bowl  than  ever  before  in 
his  life. 

•  Don  Roderigue  decided  to  postpone  his  ride,  and  to 
entertain  the  party.     Maria  seemed  not  to  be  sorry  for 


YOUNG   AMERICA   HOMEWARD    BOUND.  163 

the  change  of  programme ;  and  Scott  presented  her  to 
all  his  brother  officers  and  to  the  surgeon.  They  spent 
a  delightful  afternoon  among  the  budding  flowers  and 
orange-groves  of  the  magnificent  estate  of  their  host.  He 
was  an  exceedingly  hospitable  man,  and  the  supper  pre- 
pared for  them  was  an  elaborate  banquet.  He  was  very 
much  surprised  that  all  his  guests  should  refuse  to  par- 
take of  the  old  and  rare  wines  he  set  before  tffem  ;  but 
the  doctor  was  able  to  give  him  a  satisfactory  expla- 
nation of  their  refusal,  so  that  he  did  not  feel  hurt. 

When  they  were  ready  to  depart,  they  found  two  of 
the  sleds  of  the  country  ready  at  the  door,  in  which 
they  were  to  descend  the  long  hill  to  the  city.  They 
took  their  seats  ;  and  a  man  placed  himself  on  each 
side  of  the  sled,  holding  a  rope  from  the  forward  end 
of  the  runner  to  guide  and  control  the  vehicle.  They 
made  the  descent  very  rapidly  ;  and  the  students  de- 
clared it  was  almost  as  good  as  coasting  on  the  snow. 

The  next  day  Don  Roderigue,  his  wife  and  daughter, 
visited  the  vessels  of  the  squadron,  and  were  treated 
with  the  distinguished  consideration  to  which  their 
social  standing  entitled  them.  The  Portuguese  gentle- 
man was  delighted  with  the  order  and  the  nautical 
evolutions  of  the  young  sailors.  In  return  for  the 
courtesy  extended  to  him  and  his  family,  Don  Roder- 
igue invited  all  hands  to  spend  a  day  at  the  "  Quinta  da 
Son  Joao ; "  and  he  insisted  that  all  should  come. 
They  all  went ;  and  the  officers  and  seamen  had  the 
gayest  lark  of  the  year. 

Quite  a  number  of  Portuguese,  English,  and  French 
young  ladies  were  also  invited ;  and  the  dancing  in  the 
great  hall  of  the  mansion  was  kept  up  till  midnight. 


164  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA;    OR, 

Two  days  later  the  liberal  host  invited  the  party  he  had 
first  met  to  visit  the  Curral,  and  ascend  the  Pico  Ruivo. 
He  provided  horses,  guides,  and  servants  for  the  excur- 
sion, and  entertained  them  royally  till  their  return  to 
the  vessels. 

The  Curra/is  the  greatest  natural  curiosity  in  Ma- 
deira. It  is  a  vast  ravine,  and  may  once  have  formed  a 
deep  lak».  It  is  surrounded  by  lofty  mountains,  which 
add  greatly  to  the  grandeur  of  the  scenery.  It  re- 
minded the  students  of  the  "  Dry  Dock,"  as  they  called 
it,  in  the  Saxon  Switzerland. 

The  Curral  is  about  thirteen  hundred  feet  deep,  and 
the  greater  portion  of  its  sides  are  perpendicular  rock. 
Every  thing  in  the  vicinity  is  very  picturesque,  and  the 
students  were  delighted  with  the  excursion. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  165 


CHAPTER    XII. 

CONCERNING   THE   MISSING    STEAMER. 

"  r  I  ^HERE  is  a  steamer  coming  into  port !  "  shouted 
JL  one  of  the  idlers  in  the  foretop  of  the  American 
Prince,  one  morning  after  the  squadron  had  been  a 
week  at  Funchal. 

A  dozen  glasses  were  brought  to  bear  upon  the 
approaching  steamer,  which  was  coming  in  from  the 
north-east.  She  was  not  a  large  vessel,  and  was 
square-rigged  forward,  like  the  Ville  d'Angers ;  but  it 
could  not  yet  be  determined  whether  she  had  two  or 
three  masts,  as  she  was  headed  directly  towards  the 
Loo  Rock.  The  picked-up  steamer  was  barkentine 
rigged  ;  and,  so  far  as  could  be  judged  at  that  distance, 
the  new-comer  was  about  her  size. 

The  American  Prince  had  been  out  on  a  three-days' 
cruise  in  search  of  the  Ville  d'Angers.  She  had  spo- 
ken several  vessels  without  obtaining  any  intelligence  of 
the  missing  steamer.  She  had  just  returned  to  Fun- 
chal. Mr.  Lowington  was  very  much  depressed  at  the 
ill  success  of  the  expedition  ;  but  Mr.  Fluxion  insisted 
that  the  Ville  d'Angers  was  all  right.  She  had  plenty 
of  coal,  plenty  of  provisions,  and  she  was  a  good, 
strongly-built  vessel :  he  had  examined  her  in  detail, 


1 66  ISLES    OF   THE   SEA;    OR, 

and  he  did  not  believe  that  the  students  could  have 
foundered  her  if  they  had  tried  to  do  so.  The  worst  he 
could  conceive  that  had  happened  to  her  was,  that  she 
had  broken  some  of  her  machinery,  and  had  drifted 
away  to  leeward  before  the  south-east  winds  which  had 
been  prevailing  for  a  week. 

"  But  you  say  her  sails  were  in  good  order  and  con- 
dition," replied  the  principal.  "  I  presume  her  com- 
mander knew  enough  to  get  sail  upon  her  if  her  engine 
was  disabled." 

"  If  he  did,  he  has  had  a  head-wind  all  the  time,  and 
will  have  to  beat  his  vessel  all  the  way.  It  is  very 
likely  the  steamer  is  not  in  good  sailing-trim,  for  such 
craft  as  she  is  don't  work  well  under  sail  alone,"  con- 
tinued Mr.  Fluxion. 

"  But  that  vessel  coining  into  this  port  is  using 
steam,"  said  Mr.  Lowington,  as  he  directed  his  glass 
towards  her  again. 

"•Of  course  I  can't  tell  what  has  happened  to  the 
Ville  dangers,  but  I  feel  quite  confident  that  she  is  all 
right.  We  have  had  no  very  bad  weather  since  we 
parted  company,  and  not  a  great  deal  of  fog  near  the 
islands,"  persisted  Mr.  Fluxion,  who  felt  it  "  in  his 
bones  "  that  the  steamer  and  her  crew  were  safe,  though 
he  could  give  no  good  reason  for  his  belief. 

"  I  think  that  is  not  the  steamer  you  have  de- 
scribed," said  Mr.  Lowington,  in  heavy  tones ;  for  he 
was  very  sad  at  heart. 

"I  don't  think  it  is,  myself,"  added  the  vice-principal. 
"  This  one  has  only  two  masts,  if  I  mistake  not.  She 
is  a  very  fast  sailer  though." 

For  half  an  hour  longer  all  hands  watched  the  ap- 


YOUNG    AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  167 

preaching  steamer,  which  left  a  long  line  of  dense 
black  smoke  for  miles  astern  of  her.  It  was  settled 
that  it  was  not  the  Ville  d' Angers,  for  she  was  rigged 
as  a  topsail  schooner.  She  was  a  very  jaunty-looking 
craft,  with  raking  masts,  and  smoke-stack ;  and  she  cut 
her  way  through  the  water  like  a  fish,  creating  hardly 
any  commotion  in  the  waves  around  her.  Outside  she 
was  painted  a  shining  black,  while  inboard  she  was 
milk-white.  Her  rigging  was  hauled  taut,  and  every 
thing  about  her  was  as  neat  and  ship-shape  as  on  board 
a  man-of-war. 

"  That  is  not  the  Ville  d'Ang^rs ;  but,  as  she  comes 
down  from  the  north-east,  she  may  have  seen  her,"  said 
Mr.  Lowington,  putting  away  his  glass,  which  was  no 
longer  needed  to  observe  the  approaching  craft. 

"  She  is  so  trim  and  taut,  I  think  she  must  be  a 
man-of-war,"  added  Mr.  Fluxion.  "  She  looks  like  one 
of  our  smaller  gunboats.  I  see  she  has  the  American 
flag  at  her  peak." 

"  She  carries  a  private  signal  at  her  foremast  head," 
continued  the  principal,  taking  his  glass  from  the 
brackets  on  the  companion-way.  "Can  you  make  it 
out,  Mr.  Fluxion  ? " 

"  It  blows  out  straight  from  us,  so  that  I  cannot  see 
the  letters  upon  it." 

"  Young  gentlemen,  can  you  make  out  the  letters  on 
the  private  signal  of  that  steamer  ? "  asked  the  princi- 
pal,- turning  to  the  students,  who  were  as  much  inter- 
ested in  the  new-comer  as  the  faculty  were. 

"  I  have  it,  sir,"  replied  one  of  the  sharp-eyed  stu- 
dents, who  had  been  studying  this  signal  for  some  time. 
"  It  is  an  arrow,  with  the  word  '  Marian '  above,  and  an 
'  R '  below  it." 


1 68  ISLES    OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

"  Then  it  is  not  the  Ville  d'Angers,  nor  a  man-of- 
war,"  said  Mr.  Lowington  very  sadly.  "  I  hoped  it 
might  be  the  latter,  at  least ;  for  she  would  have  been 
more  likely  to  be  able  to  give  us  some  information  in 
regard  to  the  missing  vessel." 

"  On  board  the  Prince  !  "  shouted  Mr.  Pelham  from 
the  deck  of  the  Tritonia,  which  was  moored  next  to  the 
steamer. 

"On  board  of  the  Tritonia!"  returned  Carson,  the 
first  lieutenant  of  the  ship. 

"That  steamer  is  the  Marian,  Judge  Rodwood's 
yacht/'  replied  Mr.  Pelham. 

Carson  communicated  this  information  to  the  princi- 
pal, for  neither  he  nor  Mr.  Fluxion  knew  the  name  of 
the  judge's  steam-yacht ;  or  they  did  not  recognize  it 
if  they  had  heard  it  mentioned.  By  this  time  the  Mar- 
ian had  stopped  her  screw  off  the  Loo  Rock ;  and  the 
government  boat  was  pulling  out  to  her.  As  she  had 
a  clean  bill  of  health  from  her  last  port,  she  was  sub- 
jected to  no  detention;  and  the  government  officers 
assigned  her  a  place  to  moor  near  the  Josephine.  As 
she  passed  under  the  stern  of  the  Prince,  two  gentle- 
men were  seen  on  her  rail,  who  seemed  to  regard  the 
Prince  with  great  interest.  One  of  them  was  a  tall 
man,  with  a  white  beard  and  white  hair ;  he  pointed  to 
the  name  on  the  stern,  and  became  quite  excited. 

"  That  must  be  Judge  Rodwood,"  said  Mr.  Fluxion. 
"  He  has  come  to  look  for  his  runaway  ward." 

"And  I  wish  we  had  his  runaway  ward  for  him," 
added  the  principal.  "  However,  I  do  not  feel  that 
any  one  is  to  blame  for  what  has  transpired." 

"  Certainly  not,"  replied  Mr.  Fluxion.     "  We  could 


YOUNG    AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  169 

not  bring  in  the  steamer  without  the  young  gentlemen ; 
and  that  was  just  the  kind  of  experience  they  needed 
to  fit  them  for  the  business  of  life." 

""I  have  sent  the  young  men  away  in  charge  of  one 
of  the  vessels  of  the  squadron  several  times,  and  this 
is  the  first  time  any  of  them  has  failed  to  report  where 
he  was  ordered,"  continued  the  principal.  "Wain- 
wright  brought  the  Tritonia  from  the  Baltic  up  the 
Mediterranean  alone,  when  the  vice-principal  on  board 
was  worse  than  useless,  and  anchored  her  safely  in  the 
Golden  Horn." 

"  Yes,  sir ;  and  you  may  depend  upon  it  that  O'Hara 
will  do  as  well  on  the  present  occasion  as  Wainwright 
did,"  replied  the  vice-principal  cheerfully. 

"  I  hope  he  will ;  but  I  would  give  a  thousand  dollars 
at  this  moment  to  know  that  he  and  his  shipmates  are 
safe  and  well." 

"  Possibly  this  steam-yacht  will  be  able  to  afford  us 
some  information,"  suggested  Mr.  Fluxion. 

"  There  is  a  remote  chance  that  she  may  have  seen 
her.  The  judge  telegraphed  to  his  ward  at  Gibraltar 
from  London :  as  he  got  no  answer  to  his  letter  or 
despatch,  possibly  he  went  to  Gibraltar  on  his  way  to 
Funchal.  If  O'Hara  could  not  make  his  way  against 
the  head  wind,  after  he  broke  his  machinery,  he  may 
have  headed  his  vessel  for  the  nearest  port,  which  is 
Lisbon  or  Cadiz.  The  Marian  may  have  seen  the 
Ville  d' Angers,"  reasoned  Mr.  Lowington. 

"  But  that  steamer  has  not  had  time  to  go  to  Gib- 
raltar, and  then  come  down  to  Madeira,  since  we  sailed 
from  that  port.  I  don't  believe  she  has  been  to  Gib." 

"  We  shall  soon  know ;  for  here  comes  a  boat  from 


170  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA;    OR, 

the  steam-yacht,"  added  Mr.  Lowington,  as  a  dashing 
barge,  with  crimson  velvet  cushions  in  her  stern  sheets, 
pulled  up  to  the  accommodation  steps. 

The  six  seamen  who  were  at  the  oars  were  dressed 
in  uniform,  and  had  the  word  "  Marian  "  in  gold  letters 
on  their  hats.  Every  thing  about  the  boat  was  very 
stylish,  as  it  was  about  the  yacht  itself.  The  tall 
gentleman  with  the  white  hair  and  beard,  who  wore 
the  uniform  of  the  New  York  Yacht  Club,  led  the  way 
up  the  stairs,  and  was  the  first  to  come  upon  the  deck 
of  the  Prince.  He  was  followed  by  the  captain  of  the 
yacht  and  a  gentleman  in  civilian's  dress.  Mr.  Low- 
ington was  at  the  gangway  to  receive  the  visitors.  The 
judge  touched  his  cap,  and  so  did  the  principal. 

"  Are  you  the  captain  of  this  steamer  ? "  asked  the 
judge. 

"  No,  sir ;  but  I  am  principal  of  the  academy  squad- 
ron, of  which  this  is  the  chief  vessel ;  and  I  am  really, 
though  not  nominally,  the  commander  of  the  ship," 
replied  Mr.  Lowington,  who  usually  allowed  the  captain 
to  answer  such  questions,  in  order  to  give  him  the 
needed  experience  in  all  affairs  relating  to  the  vessel. 

"  Then  you  are  the  gentleman  I  wish  to  see,"  con- 
tinued Judge  Rodwood,  introducing  himself,  and  then 
presenting  Capt.  Goodwin,  the  commander  of  the 
Marian. 

"  Capt.  Goodwin !  "  exclaimed  the  principal,  as  he 
glanced  at  the  person  named.  "  I  ought  to  know  him, 
for  he  was  formerly  one  of  my  pupils,"  and  he  grasped 
the  hand  of  the  captain. 

"I  am  very  glad  indeed  to  meet  you  again,  Mr. 
Lowington,"  replied  Capt.  Goodwin.  "You  see  that 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  171 

I  am  making  use  of  the  practical  knowledge  I  obtained 
in  the  Young  America ;  and  I  was  very  sorry  to  hear 
that  the  old  ship  had  gone  to  the  bottom." 

"  Capt.  Goodwin  has  told  me  all  about  your  acade- 
my ;  and  he  always  speaks  of  you  with  the  highest 
respect  and  regard,"  interposed  Judge  Rodwood. 
"  But  have  you  a  young  man  among  your  students  by 
the  name  of  Thomas  Speers  ?  " 

"  We  have  such  a  name  on  our  books  ;  but  I  regret 
to  say  that  he  is  away  just  now,  and  we  are  not  a  little 
anxious  about  him  and  his  companions,"  answered 
Mr.  Lowington  very  seriously. 

The  principal  then  detailed  all  the  circumstances 
connected  with  the  absence  of  Tom  Speers.  Mr.  Pel- 
ham  was  sent  for ;  and  he  was  very  glad  to  meet 
Goodwin,  who  had  been  a  pupil  with  him  when  the 
Young  America  first  crossed  the  Atlantic.  He  ex- 
plained more  particularly  why  the  despatch  and  the 
letter  had  not  been  opened  sooner. 

"Then  the  young  rascal  has  purposely  kept  away 
from  me,"  said  Judge  Rodwood.  "  His  uncle  has  left 
him  three  millions  of  dollars ;  and  he  makes  me  chase 
him  all  over  the  world  to  put  him  in  possession  of  his 
fortune.  As  Tom  is  nearly  twenty-one,  I  thought  I 
should  be  doing  him  a  good  turn  if  I  took  him  out  of 
school.  The  Marian  really  belonged  to  Tom's  uncle ; 
and,  as  the  boy  is  fond  of  the  sea,  I  thought  I  would 
give  him  the  benefit  of  it.  I  used  to  keep  the  best 
state-room  on  board  for  Mr.  Speers  ;  and  I  still  reserve 
it  for  his  heir.  " 

"  I  should  have  discharged  the  young  man  if  I  had 
received  your  letter  in  season  to  do  so  before  we  sailed 


172  ISLES    OF    THE    SEA  ;     OR, 

from  Gibraltar,  and  sent  him  on  to  London,"  added 
Mr.  Lowington. 

"  But  it  seems  that  he  does  not  wish  to  be  sent  off ; 
and  in  that  case  I  am  willing  that  he  should  remain  in 
your  academy,"  observed  Judge  Rodwood.  "If  he 
had  telegraphed  to  me  that  he  did  not  wish  to  leave  his 
vessel,  I  should  have  been  perfectly  satisfied,  and  per- 
mitted him  to  remain.  In  fact,  I  am  not  legally  his 
guardian  yet,  for  the  young  man  has  a  voice  in  the 
business  himself." 

"Do  you  hail  from  Gibraltar  now,  sir?"  asked  the 
principal. 

"No,  sir:  I  have  not  been  anywhere  near 'Gibraltar. 
When  I  received  no  reply  to  my  despatch  or  letter,  I 
telegraphed  to  a  correspondent  of  our  banking-house, 
and  learned  that  your  squadron  had  sailed  for  Fun- 
chal,  and  that  young  Speers  had  undoubtedly  'gone 
in  the  vessel  to  which  he  belonged.  I  am  off  on  a 
cruise ;  and  I  was  rather  pleased  with  the  idea  of  going 
to  Madeira  in  search  of  my  ward." 

"  Then  you  are  direct  from  England  ?  " 

"  I  am :  the  Marian  is  six  days  from  Southampton. 
As  I  was  anxious  to  find  young  Speers  before  you  left 
these  islands,  I  required  the  captain  to  hurry  her ;  and 
I  think  we  made  fifteen  knots  an  hour  a  good  part  of 
the  voyage." 

"  I  am  very  anxious  indeed  about  the  safety  of 
Speers  and  his  shipmates,"  continued  Mr.  Lowington ; 
"and  I  hoped,  when  I  saw  your  steamer,  that  you 
would  be  able  to  give  us  some  information  in  regard  to 
the  steamer  picked  up  by  the  Tritonia." 

"We  haven't  seen  her;  have  we,  Capt.  Goodwin?" 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  173 

asked  the  judge,  turning  to  the  commander  of  the 
Marian. 

"  Think  not :  indeed,  we  have  seen  but  one  steamer 
during  the  trip,  at  least  after  we  got  off  into  blue 
water,"  replied  Capt.  Goodwin. 

"  We  saw  a  steamer  towing  a  dismasted  vessel,  you 
remember,"  interposed  Dr.  Phelps,  the  other  gentleman 
of  the  party  from  the  Marian,  who  was  making  the 
voyage  for  his  health  with  his  friend  the  judge. 

"  True :  I  did  not  think  of  her.  The  other  was  a  P. 
and'  O.  steamer,  bound  into  Southampton,"  added 
Goodwin.  "  What  sort  of  a  vessel  was  it  the  Tritonia 
picked  up  ? " 

"  She  is  a  screw  steamer  of  about  six  hundred  tons, 
three  masts,  square  rigged  forward,"  replied  Mr.  Pel- 
ham.  "  She  is  painted  black ;  and  her  cabin  is  under 
a  poop-deck.  She  is  long,  and  very  narrow  for  her 
length.  Her  name  is  the  Ville  d'Angers,  and  she  has 
a  French  register.  She  was  abandoned  by  her  ship's 
company,  for  she  had  a  hole  stove  in  her  starboard 
bow  by  a  collision  with  another  vessel ;  but  her  dam- 
ages had  been  thoroughly  repaired." 

"  The  steamer  that  was  towing  the  dismasted  vessel 
corresponds  to  the  description  you  give  of  the  Ville 
d'Angers,"  said  Capt.  Goodwin.  "  But  I  suppose  half 
the  steamers  that  ply  between  the  ports  of  England 
and  the  Continent  would  fill  the  bill  as  well." 

"  I  was  looking  through  the  glass  at  that  steamer  for 
half  an  hour,"  interposed  Dr.  Phelps.  "I  was  sitting 
on  deck  with  nothing  else  to  do ;  and  I  was  trying  to 
ascertain  the  condition  of  tilings  on  board  of  the  dis- 
masted vessel." 


174  ISLES    OF   THE   SEA;    OR, 

"Did  you  notice  any  thing  particular  about  her?" 
asked  Capt.  Goodwin.  "  But  we  didn't  go  within  two 
miles  of  her ;  though  I  noted  in  my  log  the  fact  that  we 
passed  a  steamer  towing  a  dismasted  vessel." 

"  The  glass  was  a  very  powerful  one  ;  and  I  tried  to 
make  out  the  people  on  board  of  the  wreck  and  of  the 
steamer,  but  I  could  not." 

"  Did  the  steamer  sit  low  in  the  water,  or  was  she 
well  up  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Pelham. 

"  I  am  not  a  nautical  man,  and  I  am  not  a  competent 
judge ;  but  I  should  say  she  was  more  out  of  the  water 
than  the  Marian,"  replied  the  doctor. 

"  Could  you  tell  what  color  she  was  painted  ? " 

"Black,  while  the  vessel  she  was  towing  was  green  ; 
and  I  noticed  this  fact  particularly,  for  it  was  an  odd 
color  for  a  vessel,  as  I  understood  the  matter.  I  was 
going  to  say,  in  regard  to  the  steamer,  that  she  was  not 
black  the  whole  length  of  her,  on  the  side  next  to  me." 

"  On  which  hand  did  you  leave  the  steamer  and  her 
tow,  Goodwin  ? "  asked  Mr.  Pelham,  beginning  to  be  a 
little  excited  over  the  matter. 

"  This  was  off  Ushant ;  and  we  were  on  the  shore 
hand  of  her." 

"  You  left  her  on  the  starboard  hand  ;  and  the  steam- 
er was  headed  which  way  ? " 

"  She  was  going  a  little  east  of  north ;  and  I  con- 
cluded that  she  intended  to  make  either  Plymouth  or 
Southampton.  She  may  have  gone  more  to  the  east- 
ward when  she  was  well  up  with  the  cape,"  added  Capt. 
Goodwin. 

"  Then  it  was  the  starboard  side  of  the  steamer  that 
was  seen  by  Dr.  Phelps  ?  " 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  175 

"  Certainly  it  was  :  she  was  on  our  starboard,  headed 
to  the  northward,"  replied  Goodwin. 

"You  said  the  steamer  was  not  black  the  whole 
length  of  her,  Dr.  Phelps  ?  "  continued  the  vice-princi- 
pal of  the  Tritonia,  warming  up  still  more  as  the  inves- 
tigation proceeded. 

"  I  said  so ;  but,  if  you  give  me  any  nautical  conun- 
drums, I  can't  guess  them,"  answered  the  passenger, 
laughing. 

"  What  color  was  the  part  of  the  steamer  that  was 
not  black,  if  you  please,  Dr.  Phelps  ? "  asked  Mr.  Pel- 
ham. 

"  It  was  a  kind  of  straw-color ;  possibly  yellow.  It 
was  a  sort  of  an  irregular  patch  at  the  forward  part  of 
the  vessel.  If  it  had  been  on  the  roof  of  an  old  barn 
in  the  country,  I  should  say  that  it  had  a  lot  of  new 
shingles  laid  among  the  old  ones,"  answered  the  doctor. 

"  Precisely  so  !  and  that  part  of  the  steamer's  side 
near  the  forward  part  of  her  —  and  that  was  on  her 
starboard  bow  —  was  the  new  planking  of  the  Villa 
d' Angers,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Pelham  excitedly.  "  I  would 
not  give  any  one  ten  cents  to  insure  my  statement  that 
the  steamer  towing  the  dismasted  vessel  was  the  Ville 
d'Angers !  " 

"  It  may  be,"  replied  the  principal,  musing. 

"  I  am  confident  I  am  right." 

"  I  think  you  are,  Pelham,"  added  Mr.  Fluxion,  who 
was  particularly  pleased  to  have  his  hopeful  theory 
substantiated. 

"  But  the  Ville  d'Angers  must  have  made  good  time, 
towing  a  wreck,  to  have  been  off  Ushant  when  you  saw 
her  there,"  suggested  the  principal.  "  It  is  hardly  pos- 
sible it  was  she." 


176  ISLES    OF    THE   SEA;    OR, 

"  It  took  us  three  days  to  make  Funchal  after  we  lost 
sight  of  the  Ville  d' Angers,"  said  Mr.  Fluxion,  figuring 
with  a  pencil  on  the  back  of  a  letter.  "  When  did  you 
see  this  steamer,  Capt.  Goodwin  ? " 

"  In  the  first  part  of  our  second  day  out,"  replied  the 
captain  of  the  Marian. 

"Then  the  Ville  d' Angers  had  five  days  to  make 
Ushant ;  and  she  could  easily  do  it  in  that  time :  she 
had  the  wind  with  her  all  the  way." 

"  And  she  had  all  her  sails  set ;  and  it  was  blowing 
fresh  when  we  saw  her.  They  had  a  jury-mast  on  the 
wreck,  with  some  sail  on  it,"  added  Capt.  Goodwin. 

"  It  blew  a  gale  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay  the  next  day, 
and  I  have  no  doubt  it  extended  up  to  the  coast  of 
England,"  said  Judge  Rodwood.  "  Do  I  understand 
you,  Mr.  Lowington,  that  you  send  these  boys  off  on 
such  expeditions  as  this  one  ? " 

"  Some  of  these  boys,  as  you  call  them,  judge,  are 
older  than  I  was  when  I  had  the  command  of  a  full- 
rigged  ship  for  a  time.  No,  I  do  not  send  them  off  on 
such  expeditions  when  I  can  avoid  it.  I  have  told  you 
that  our  friend  Mr.  Frisbone  was  on  board  of  the 
steamer  ;  and  my  young  gentlemen  had  the  alternative 
of  leaving 'him  and  his  ladies  on  board,  or  taking  pos- 
session of  her.  I  think  they  acted  wisely,  though  I 
cannot  explain  the  conduct  of  the  present  commander 
of  the  Ville  d' Angers  in  towing  this  wreck  to  England.'* 

"  In  my  judgment  he  had  a  good  reason  for  doing 
so,"  added  Mr.  Fluxion.  "  O'Hara  is  twenty  years 
old ;  Gregory,  his  first  officer,  is  nineteen ;  Speers  is 
the  second  officer,  and  he  is  nearly  twenty-one.  The 
other  two  officers  are  about  the  same  age.  There  isn't 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  177 

a  fellow  among  them  that  is  not  fit  to  take  that  steamer 
to  any  port  in  the  world  ;  and  no  officers,  even  in  the 
navy,  have  been  so  thoroughly  trained  in  the  discharge 
of  their  duties." 

Mr.  Fluxion  got  just  a  little  excited  in  the  defence  of 
the  policy  of  the  principal.  He  had  been  an  instructor 
in  the  institution  since  it  was  organized,  and  he  knew 
the  nature  of  the  training  the  students  had  received ; 
and  any  one  who  was  fit  to  be  an  officer  had  been 
obliged  to  work  his  way  up  to  the  position. 

"  You  think  the  steamer  was  bound  to  Southampton, 
do  you,  Capt.  Goodwin  ? "  asked  Mr.  Pelham. 

"  I  have  not  the  least  idea  for  what  port  she  was 
bound ;  but  she  was  going  east  of  north  when  I  saw 
her  last,  so  that  she  could  not  have  been  bound  for 
Liverpool,  or  any  port  up  the  west  coast,"  replied  Capt. 
Goodwin.  "  I  should  judge  that  she  would  be  most 
likely  to  go  into  Southampton  ;  for  she  would  find  the 
least  difficulty  in  the  navigation  in  making  that  her 
destination." 

"  Then  she  probably  got  into  Southampton  four  days 
ago,"  added  Mr.  Pelham.  "  Very  likely  she  put  about 
immediately,  and  sailed  for  Funchal.  She  may  be  here 
by  to-morrow  or  next  day." 

"  Unless  the  agents  or  the  owners  happen  to  see 
her,  and  put  in  a  claim  upon  her,"  suggested  Mr. 
Fluxion :  "  her  case  has  to  be  settled  in  the  courts 
yet." 

"  Southampton  will  be  a  good  place  for  the  business," 
said  the  principal ;  "  but  that  will  leave  her  ship's  com- 
pany in  England  without  a  vessel." 

"  Leave  that  to  O'Hara ;  and  Tom  Speers  has  money 


178  ISLES    OF   THE   SEA;    OR, 

enough  to  pay  the  passage  of  all  his  shipmates  to  Ma- 
deira in  the  next  steamer,"  said  the  judge,  laughing. 
"  But  Frisbone  is  with  them ;  and  I  am  sure  he  will  see 
them  through  all  right.  It  is  hardly  worth  while  to 
worry  about  them.  I  desire  to  see  young  Speers  very 
much  indeed ;  and,  if  he  prefers  to  retain  his  place  in 
the  Tritonia  as  first  master,  I  shall  make  no  objection. 
If  I  thought  I  should  find  him  at  Southampton,  I  would 
return  there  at  once.  Can  you  advise  me  what  to  do, 
Mr.  Lowington  ? " 

"  The  chances  are,  as  Mr.  Pelham  suggests,  that  the 
Ville  d' Angers  will  return  to  Funchal  at  once  ;  and 
you  had  better  remain  here  a  few  days  at  least.  If  the 
steamer  does  not  appear  in  three  days,  I  am  inclined 
to  think  I  shall  run  over  to  Lisbon,  or  some  other  port, 
where  I  shall  be  likely  to  obtain  some  intelligence  of 
the  missing  vessel.  If  we  could  get-  at  the  ship-news 
for  the  last  week,  we  should  know  whether  this  steamer 
had  gone  into  Southampton  or  not." 

"  Then  I  will  remain  here  a  short  time,"  said  the 
judge.  "The  African  mail-steamer  is  due  here  in  a 
few  days  ;  and  she  will  bring  the  latest  ship-news." 

"We  have  almost  taken  it  for  granted  that  the 
steamer  towing  the  dismasted  vessel  was  the  Ville 
d' Angers;  but  we  may  be  mistaken,  after  all.  Any 
other  vessel  may  have  had  her  side  planked  up  ;  and  it 
is  not  a  very  unusual  thing  for  a  steamer  to  have  her 
bow  stove  in,"  added  the  principal.  But  he  was  hope- 
ful that  the  vessel  described  would  prove  to  be  the 
missing  steamer ;  and  it  removed  in  a  measure  a  heavy 
load  from  his  mind. 

After  breakfast  the  principal  and  some  of  the  young 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  170 

officers  visited  the  Marian  by  invitation.  In  the  after- 
noon Scott  and  his  party  visited  the  quinta  of  Don 
Roderigue ;  and  the  second  lieutenant  of  the  Tritonia 
felt  sufficiently  at  home  there  to  invite  the  judge  and 
the  doctor  to  accompany  them,  for  he  had  been  assured 
that  any  of  his  friends  would  be  welcome  there. 

Three  days  passed  away  in  the  enjoyment  of  the 
scenery  and  the  hospitalities  of  Madeira ;  but  the 
Ville  d' Angers  did  not  arrive. 


l8o  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  j    OR, 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

A  MUTINY   IN   THE   FIRE-ROOM. 

AS  no  one  could  see  the  Ville  D'Angers  and  the 
two  schooners  in  the  dense  fog  that  settled 
down  upon  them  after  the  crew  of  the  steamer  had 
been  re-organized,  it  would  be  difficult  to  determine 
precisely  in  what  manner  they  were  separated.  Capt. 
O'Hara  did  not  start  the  screw  of  the  steamer  until  he 
had  stationed  his  ship's  company  in  accordance  with 
his  instructions  given  by  the  senior  vice-principal.  If 
there  was  any  fault  anywhere,  it  was  in  the  instructions. 
Observations  had  been  taken  on  board  of  all  the 
vessels  at  noon,  and  the  course  for  the  Madeira  Islands 
was  ascertained  to  be  south-west,  half-west ;  and  the  two 
schooners  went  off  in  this  direction,  with  the  wind  from 
the  southward,  but  veering  to  the  west.  O'Hara  used 
up  about  two  hours  in  stationing  his  crew,  arranging 
the  quarters  of  the  officers  and  seamen,  and  in  giving 
his  instructions.  By  this  time  the  Tritonia  and  the 
Josephine  were  a  dozen  miles  on  their  way,  and  they 
looked  like  white  specks  on  the  ocean  to  the  naked 
eye.  The  young  captain  believed  that  the  Ville  d' An- 
gers, from  what  she  had  done,  would  sail  twelve  knots 
an  hour ;  and  at  this  rate  he  could  overhaul  the  rest 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  l8l 

of  the  fleet  in  a  couple  of  hours.  But  the  Ville  d' An- 
gers was  hardly  under  way  before  the  fog  settled  down 
upon  her,  and  shut  out  the  schooners  from  view. 

The  heavy  whistle  of  the  steamer  could  be  heard  for 
a  long  distance  ;  but  the  bell  and  fog-horn  of  the  other 
vessels  could  not  be  distinguished  by  the  lookout  of 
the  Ville  d'Angers.  Then  the  wind  hauled  to  the 
westward,  heading  off  the  sailing-vessels.  O'Hara  was 
watching  the  weather  and  the  vessels  very  closely  all 
the  time ;  and,  though  the  direction  of  the  wind  did  not 
greatly  affect  the  steamer,  he  saw  that  the  Josephine 
and  Tritonia  could  no  longer  lay  their  course. 

He  continued  the  steamer  on  the  course  given  out 
for  two  hours,  without  seeing  or  hearing  any  thing  of 
his  consorts.  The  captain  began  to  be  a  little  worried ; 
for  he  would  as  soon  have  thought  of  drowning  him- 
self as  of  disobeying  the  orders  of  the  senior  vice-prin- 
cipal, and  going  off  on  an  independent  cruise.  It  was 
evident  enough  to  him,  that  the  schooners  had  tacked, 
or  had  been  crowded  off  their  course  by  the  changing 
wind  ;  he  could  not  tell  whether  they  had  gone  to  the 
westward  or  southward.  He  wished  Mr.  Fluxion  had 
told  him  what  he  should  do  under  such  circumstance 
as  the  present,  which  might  have  been  easily  fore- 
seen. 

"  Upon  my  sowl,  I  am  afraid  we  shall  part  company 
with  the  rest  of  the  fleet,"  said  the  captain  to  Tom 
Speers,  who  was  on  the  deck. 

"  It  seems  to  me  we  have  done  it  already,"  replied 
the  second  officer. 

"  That's  a  fact !  Now  the  wind  has  changed,  and  it 
bothers  me  to  know  whether  the  schooners  have  tacked 


1 82  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

and  stood  \o  the  southward,  or  kept  as  close  to  the 
wind  as  they  could,  and  gone  off  to  the  westward." 

"  It  isn't  possible  to  tell  what  they  have  done." 

"  That's  true  for  you  ! "  added  the  captain,  musing. 
"  Now  let  us  think  it  over  seriously.  We  ought  to  have 
overhauled  the  Josephine  and  Tritonia  just  where  we 
are  at  this  moment,"  and  he  glanced  at  the  clock  that 
hung  in  the  pilot-house.  "  But  there  is  no  sight  nor 
sound  of  them  here.  —  Blow  the  whistle,  Mr.  Raymond, 
if  you  please." 

"  We  have  whistled  every  five  minutes  since  the  fog 
settled  down  upon  us,"  replied  the  fourth  officer,  as  he 
sounded  it  again. 

It  was  time  to  heave  the  log,  and  the  officer  of  the 
quarter-watch  left  the  pilot-house  to  attend  to  this  duty. 
In  a  few  moments  he  reported  the  steamer  as  going 
only  eight  knots  an  hour.  O'Hara  was  vexed  at  this 
low  rate  of  speed  ;  for  he  was  persuaded  that  the 
steamer  was  good  for  at  least  twelve  knots.  He  went 
to  the  engine-room  to  inquire  into  the  matter.  Rich- 
ards was  in  charge  of  the  engine ;  and  he  was  seated  on 
his  cushioned  bench,  reading  a  novel. 

"  What  the  blazes  are  you  doing  in  here  ?  "  shouted 
the  captain,  abating  no  little  of  his  natural  politeness. 
"  Sure,  the  steamer  is  making  only  eight  knots  an  hour 
by  the  last  log ;  and  the  schooners  will  bate  us  out  at 
this  rate." 

"We  are  making  but  thirty-eight  revolutions  a  min- 
ute ;  and  eight  miles  is  all  that  can  be  expected,"  re- 
plied the  assistant  engineer. 

"  Well,  what's  the  matter  with  her  ? "  demanded 
O'Hara,  not  a  little  excited. 


YOUNG  AMERICA   HOMEWARD    BOUND.  183 

"  I  can't  get  steam  enough  to  do  any  better,"  replied 
Richards  rather  doggedly,  for  he  did  not  like  the  man- 
ner in  which  the  captain  had  spoken  to  him. 

"Can't  you  get  all  the  steam  you  want?"  asked 
O'Hara,  in  a  more  moderate  tone  ;  for  he  began  to  see 
that  his  manner  was  a  little  too  arbitrary. 

"  I  have  called  down  into  the  fire-room  twenty  times 
for  more  steam,  and  I  have  been  down  myself ;  but  I 
don't  seem  to  make  myself  understood,"  replied  Rich- 
ards in  a  more  affable  tone,  corresponding  to  that  of 
the  captain. 

"  Those  blackguards  of  firemen  are  not  doing  their 
duty!"  exclaimed  O'Hara,  rushing  down  to  the  fire- 
room,  believing  the  difficulty  was  altogether,  in  the 
matter  of  language. 

He  spoke  to  the  Italian  in  h^s  own  language ;  and 
the  fellow  shrugged  his  shoulders,  and  looked  insolent, 
though  he  said  nothing  to  which  exception  could  be  taken. 

"  Fill  up  your  furnaces ! "  shouted  the  captain,  re- 
peating the  words  in  French  for  the  benefit  of  the  ones 
who  did  not  understand  Italian.  "We  are  making  but 
eight  knots  an  hour ;  and  we  shall  lose  the  rest  of  the 
fleet  at  this  rate  !  " 

The  men  heaved  in  a  few  shovels  of  coal ;  and 
O'Hara,  believing  he  had  said  and  done  all  that  was 
necessary,  left  the  fire-room.  He  went  upon  the  poop- 
deck,  where  he  found  Tom  Speers ;  and  both  of  them 
gazed  out  into  the  dense  fog,  and  listened  for  any 
sounds  that  might  indicate  the  situation  of  the  rest  of 
the  fleet. 

"  Do  you  make  out  any  thing,  Speers,  darlint  ? " 
asked  the  captain. 


184  ISLES   OF  THE   SEA;    OR, 

"  Nothing  at  all,"  replied  Tom.  "  In  my  opinion  we 
have  seen  the  last  we  shall  of  the  schooners  till  we  get 
to  Funchal." 

"  Don't  say  that,  Tom :  I  would  rather  lose  my 
command  than  part  company  with  the  rest  of  the 
fleet." 

"  I  don't  see  why  you  need  mourn  about  the  matter. 
We  know  where  we  are  bound,  and  we  can  get  there 
without  any  help  from  the  schooners,"  added  Tom. 

"  If  we  lose  them  they  will  say  we  did  it  on  purpose." 

"They  can't  say  that ;  for  our  log  will  show  just  how 
it  happened,  after  we  compare  it  with  those  of  the  other 
vessels." 

The  young  captain  was  very  impatient ;  and,  after 
waiting  half  an  hour,  he  ordered  the  officer  of  the 
watch  to  heave  the  log  again.  It  was  done,  and  the 
report  was  only  seven  knots. 

"  Faix,  it  seemed  to  me  she  was  going  at  a  snail's 
pace,"  said  O'Hara,  now  thoroughly  roused  by  the 
tardy  movement  of  the  vessel. 

"I  don't  understand  it,"  added  Tom. 

At  this  moment  one  of  the  crew  who  had  been  de- 
tailed to  act  as  an  oiler,  because  he  had  a  taste  for 
working  on  machinery,  came  upon  the  upper  deck. 

"  Mr.  Richards  directs  me  to  report  to  the  captain 
that  the  engine  is  making  but  thirty  revolutions  a  min- 
ute, and  that  the  firemen  won't  .do  any  better,"  said 
the  oiler. 

"  That's  what  the  matter !  Bad  luck  to  those  same 
blackguards  of  firemen  !  We  should  have  done  better 
with  some  of  the  fellows  in  the  fire-room  !  "  exclaimed 
O'Hara,  as  he  hastened  down  to  the  main  deck. 


YOUNG  AMERICA   HOMEWARD   BOUND.  185 

He  had  hardly  reached  the  foot  of  the  ladder  before 
Mr.  Frisbone  hailed  him,  coming  out  of  the  cabin. 

"What's  the  trouble,  Capt.  O'Hara?"  shouted  the 
Prince,  in  his  usual  loud  tone,  though  the  captain  was 
not  six  feet  from  him.  "  I've  been  taking  a  nap ;  and, 
when  I  waked  up,  I  thought  the  steamer  had  stopped  ; 
but  I  found  she  was  moving  a  little.  Is  any  thing  out 
of  kilter  ? " 

"  We  are  making  but  six  knots  an  hour,  sir  ;  and  the 
rascals  of  firemen  won't  work,"  replied  O'Hara. 

"  Won't  work  ?     What's  got  into  them  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,  sir :  I  am  going  down  into  the  fire- 
room  to  see  what  the  trouble  is." 

"  All  right :  that's  the  way  to  do  business ;  and  I'll 
go  down  with  you,"  added  the  Prince. 

They  stopped  in  the  engine-room  to  hear  what  the 
engineer  had  to  say  about  it.  Richards  had  been 
down,  and  had  called  in  French  a  dozen  times  for 
more  steam  ;  but  the  firemen  would  not  do  any  better. 
He  had  found  the  furnace-doors  open  ;  and  he  con- 
cluded that  the  Italians  and  Frenchmen  had  concluded 
to  strike  for  higher  wages,  though  they  had  received 
their  own  price  for  their  services. 

"  We  will  soon  see  about  that !  "  exclaimed  O'Hara, 
as  he  began  to  descend  the  iron  steps  into  the  fire- 
room. 

"  I  guess  we  can  straighten  them  out,"  added  the 
Prince,  as  he  followed  the  captain. 

They  found  the  firemen  —  not  only  the  watch  on  duty, 
but  all  of  them  —  seated  in  the  airiest  part  of  the  room, 
smoking  their  pipes  and  cigars  as  coolly  as  though 
every  thing  was  going  well  on  board.  The  doors  of 


l86  ISLES   OF  THE   SEA;    OR, 

the  furnaces  were  fastened  wide  open,  -and  the  steam 
was  rapidly  diminishing  in  pressure. 

"  What  are  you  about  ? "  demanded  O'Hara,  very 
indignant  at  the  state  of  things  he  found  in  the  fire- 
room. 

Mr.  Frisbone  went  to  the  furnaces  at  the  same  time, 
for  it  was  of  no  avail  for  him  to  say  any  thing  to  these 
men  who  did  not  understand  his  language.  He  closed 
the  doors  of  the  furnaces,  which  were  tolerably  well 
supplied  with  coal,  and  opened  the  draughts.  As  he  did 
so,  one  of  the  Frenchmen  came  up  to  him,  followed  by 
two  more. 

"  Non  !  Non  !  "  shouted  one  of  them,  as  he  closed 
the  draught,  and  threw  open  the  doors  again. 

He  proceeded  to  make  a  rather  violent  speech  in  his 
own  language,  which  was  not  understood  by  the  Prince. 
But  the  latter  could  understand  the  man's  actions  if 
not  his  words  ;  and  they  meant  rebellion  as  plainly  as 
though  it  had  been  formally  declared  in  the  English 
tongue.  He  was  not  a  man  to  be  set  aside  by  any- 
body ;  and  he  pushed  the  Frenchman  away,  and  opened 
the  doors  and  draughts  again.  He  had  scarcely  com- 
pleted the  task  before  one  of  the  men  struck  him  a  vio- 
lent blow  on  the  head,  which  felled  him  to  the  floor. 
But  he  was  not  badly  hurt,  and  leaped  to  his  feet  on 
the  instant.  In  the  twinkling  of  an  eye  he  had 
knocked  over  two  of  his  assailants  ;  and  the  third  was 
on  the  point  of  hitting  him  on  the  back  of  the  head 
with  an  iron  bar,  when  O'Hara,  seeing  his  danger, 
rushed  upon  the  Frenchman,  and,  seizing  the  man  by 
the  neck,  jammed  his  knees  into  the  small  of  his  back 
so  as  to  throw  him  over  backwards. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  187 

Richards  stood  in  the  engine-room  at  the  head  of 
the  steps,  watching  the  progress  of  events.  When  the 
Frenchman  knocked  the  Prince  over,  the  engineer 
called  Shakings  and  Rimmer,  both  of  whom  tumbled 
down  the  steps  in  season  to  defend  the  captain  from  a 
violent  assault  on  the  part  of  the  Italians,  who  were 
disposed  to  make  common  cause  with  their  fellow- 
laborers.  Raymond,  hearing  the  noise  in  the  fire- 
room,  hastened  below,  followed  by  Tom  Speers. 
These  ample  re-enforcements  caused  the  firemen  to 
fall  back,  and  place  themselves  on  the  defensive. 

"  I  am  ready  to  fight  if  need  be,  though  I  am  a  man 
of  peace,"  said  the  Prince,  puffing  with  his  exertions. 
"  But  I  should  like  to  know  what  I  am  fighting  for. 
What's  the  matter  ?  What  has  caused  this  row  ? " 

"  The  men  won't  work,"  replied  O'Hara. 

"  What's  the  reason  they  won't  work  ? "  demanded 
Mr.  Frisbone,  who  was  sufficiently  familiar  with  labor 
difficulties  to  be  competent  to  meet  any  emergency  of 
this  kind.  "Aren't  they  satisfied  with  their  wages?" 

"  They  want  a  portion  of  wine  served  out  to  each 
man  while  they  are  at  work,"  replied  O'Hara,  to  whom 
Alfonzo  had  explained  the  desire  of  the  men,  and  the 
reason  why  they  had  stopped  work. 

"  Wine  !  "  exclaimed  the  Prince,  in  utter  disgust. 

Mr.  Frisbone,  as  shown  in  a  preceding  volume  of 
this  series,  was  a  very  fierce  temperance  man,  and  did 
not  believe  that  intoxicating  drinks  of  any  kind,  not 
even  wine  and  beer  of  the  mildest  type,  were  proper 
for  use  under  any  circumstances.  He  did  not  tolerate 
the  drinking  customs  of  any  nation  he  visited.  He 
never  tasted  the  cup  in  any  form  himself,  never  gave 


l88  ISLES    OF   THE   SEA;    OR, 

it  to  his  neighbor,  or  permitted  it  to  be  given  to  him 
if  he  had  the  power  to  prevent  it. 

"  Alfonzo  says  they  asked  for  wine  on  board  of  the 
Josephine,  and  were  told  there  was  none  on  board. 
He  did  not  believe  a  statement  so  absurd  as  this  one 
seemed  to  him  ;  and  he  and  his  associates  considered 
the  reply  as  a  refusal  to  grant  their  reasonable  request. 
He  thought  it  was  no  use  to  ask  for  wine  again  ;  and 
they  have  struck  for  it  as  the  only  way  they  are  likely 
to  get  it,"  explained  the  captain. 

"  Struck  for  wine,  have  they  ?  "  demanded  the  Prince, 
gazing  with  contempt  at  the  firemen.  "  But,  while  we 
are  settling  this  question,  the  fires  are  going  out ;  and 
soon  we  shall  have  no  steam  at  all." 

The  Prince  closed  one  of  the  furnace-doors,  and 
Shakings  another.  All  the  draughts  were  adjusted  so 
that  the  fires  began  to  roar. 

Alfonzo  spoke  a  few  sharp  words  to  his  companions ; 
and  they  began  to  arm  themselves  with  such  weapons 
as  were  at  hand,  —  pokers,  shovels,  hammers,  iron  bars. 
Shakings  wanted  the  party  to  "  clean  them  out "  with- 
out any  delay.  While  things  were  in  this  attitude,  the 
cook  and  one  of  the  stewards  came  down  into  the  fire- 
room,  and  intimated  that  they  were  ready  to  do  duty  as 
the  occasion  might  require. 

"  No  clubs,"  added  Shakings,  when  he  saw  the  stew- 
ard pick  up  a  coal-breaker.  "  We  don't  want  any 
weapons.  We  can  bring  them  to  their  senses  quicker 
without  breaking  any  of  their  bones ;  and  we  want  to 
use  them,  not  kill  them." 

The  Prince  liked  this  argument,  and  warmly  seconded 
it.  The  boatswain  of  the  Josephine  was  the  self -con- 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  189 

stituted  leader  of  the  party,  possibly  because  there  was 
more  fight  in  him  than  in  any  other.  He  made  a 
spring  at  Alfonzo,  who  was  armed  with  a  hammer  used 
in  breaking  coal.  He  clinched  with  the  fellow,  to 
whom  the  weapon  in  his  hand  was  rather  an  incum- 
brance  than  otherwise.  As  he  raised  it  to  strike  his 
assailant,  Shakings  seized  him  by  the  arm.  A  sharp 
struggle  ensued ;  but  the  stalwart  tar  was  too  much  for 
his  opponent,  and  in  a  moment  he  had  thrown  him  to 
the  floor,  and  put  his  foot  upon  him. 

The  Prince  pitched  into  the  Frenchman  who  had 
struck  him  before.  He  wrenched  a  shovel  out  of  his 
hands,  and  then  threw  him  down.  Observing  how  the 
boatswain  handled  his  man,  he  followed  his  example, 
holding  the  rascal  down  with  his  foot,  while  he  men- 
aced him  with  the  shovel  if  he  attempted  to  use  his 
hands.  Rimmer  was  slower  and  clumsier  than  the 
boatswain,  but  he  succeeded  in  taking  down  one  of  the 
smallest  of  the  Italians.  Raymond  did  not  scruple  to 
tackle  another ;  and  so  quick  were  his  movements,  that 
his  man  was  down  almost  as  soon  as  the  leader  of  the 
firemen.  All  the  others  went  for  the  remaining  two  of 
the  foreigners ;  and  they  were  soon  hors  de  combat. 
The  prestige  seemed  to  be  with  the  Americans  from 
the  beginning. 

It  was  a  very  striking  spectacle,  even  after  all  the 
hitting  had  been  done,  to  see  six  men  held  down  on  the 
floor.  Tom  Speers  had  fought  like  a  tiger  with  a  French- 
man he  had  tackled  alone  in  the  beginning  of  the  affray ; 
and,  though  .O'Hara  came  to  his  aid,  it  was  not  till  he 
had  nearly  overcome  his  foe. 

"  What  shall  we  do  with  them  ?  "  asked  the  Prince,  as 
soon  as  he  could  obtain  breath  enough  to  speak. 


190  ISLES    OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

"  Who  hasn't  his  hands  full  ? "  demanded  the  boat- 
swain. 

"  I  haven't,"  replied  the  captain. 

"Then  have  rope  enough  sent  down  to  tie  these 
fellows  hand  and  foot,  if  you  please,  captain,"  added 
Shakings. 

But  all  the  watch  except  the  quartermaster  and  the 
seaman  at  the  wheel  had  heard  the  noise  of  the  con- 
flict, and  had  secured  positions 'where  they  could  see 
what  was  going  on  in  the  hold.  As  soon  as  they  heard 
the  call  of  Shakings,  they  gathered  up  all  the  spare  line 
they  could  find  about  the  deck  and  in  the  lockers,  and 
threw  it  down  into  the  fire-room.  O'Hara  passed  them 
to  the  victors  in  the  conflict,  and  each  secured  his  pwn 
man.  The  battle  was  ended,  and  the  victory  won. 

"Do  you  want  wine  now,  you  villains?"  said  the 
Prince  when  the  conquest  was  completed. 

"  But  we  are  pretty  much  out  of  firemen,"  added  the 
captain,  as  he  looked  at  the  mutineers,  made  fast  to 
the  stanchions  and  other  parts  of  the  vessel. 

"  I  am  willing  to  take  my  turn  at  the  shovels, y  re- 
plied the  Prince. 

By  this  time  the  fires  in  the  furnaces  were  burning  in 
the  most  satisfactory  manner ;  and  the  Prince  declared 
that  the  steamer  was  increasing  her  speed.  The  cap- 
tain directed  that  several  of  the  students  who  had  done 
duty  in  the  fire-room  before  the  foreigners  came  on 
board  should  be  detailed  to  serve  again.  Four  of  them 
appeared  in  answer  to  the  summons ;  and,  as  the  nov- 
elty of  the  occupation  had  not  worn  off,  they  were  glad 
to  be  employed  in  this  capacity  again.  All  hands 
except  the  firemen,  the  boatswain,  and  the  carpenter, 
left  the  fire-room. 


YOUNG   AMERICA   HOMEWARD   BOUND.  191 

The  Italians  and  Frenchmen  were  fully  convinced 
that  they  had  made  a  mistake  in  refusing  to  work : 
they  began  to  talk  among  themselves ;  and  some  of  the 
amateurs  understood  enough  of  what  was  said  by  the 
actual  firemen,  to  comprehend  that  they  were  ready  to 
resume  their  work.  But  the  students  said  nothing 
about  what  they  had  heard.  In  the  course  of  an  hour 
the  foreigners  were  tired  of  their  confined  position,  and 
begged  to  be  released  from  durance,  promising  to  do 
their  duty  faithfully. 

When  the  captain  came  down  to  see  them  a  little 
later,  they  plead  with  him  ;  and  he  consulted  with  Mr. 
Frisbone  and  the  boatswain. 

"  Let  'em  loose,  and  set  'em  to  work ;  but  don't  give 
'em  any  wine,  or  liquor  of  any  sort,"  said  the  Prince. 

"  I  don't  know  whether  there  is  any  wine  on  board," 
replied  O'Hara.  "  If  there  were  I  wouldn't  give  it  to 
those  fellows  after  they  have  behaved  so  badly.  But  I 
don't  think  they  will  give  us  any  more  trouble  after  the 
pounding  they  have  had." 

Shakings  was  directed  to  release  the  firemen ;  and, 
when  he  did  so,  he  blustered  and  handled  them  so 
roughly,  that  they  seemed  to  be  inspired  with  a  whole- 
some terror  of  his  fists.  He  cuffed  and  kicked  them 
more  liberally  than  Capt.  O'Hara  thought  was  neces- 
sary ;  and  the  latter  suggested  the  propriety  of  treating 
a  fallen  and  submissive  foe  with  a  little  more  magna- 
nimity. 

"  Bless  your  heart,  captain,  it  isn't  of  any  use  to  treat 
such  fellows  gently.  They -aren't  used  to  it.  If  you 
treat  them  well  they  will  turn  upon  you,  and  bite,"  re- 
plied Shakings,  as  he  released  the  last  man ;  but,  in 


192  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA;    OR, 

deference  to  the  captain,  he  failed  to  kick  him  as  he 
had  the  rest  of  them. 

The  three  who  were  on  watch  sprang  to  the  shovels, 
and  were  disposed  to  waste  the  coal  in  their  zeal  to  do 
their  duty.  The  Italians,  who  were  off  duty,  went  to 
their  quarters  under  the  forecastle.  O'Hara  did  not 
like  the  way  they  behaved,  and  he  directed  Shakings 
to  keep  a  close  watch  .over  them. 

"  Have  you  heard  any  thing  of  the  rest  of  the  fleet, 
Speers  ? "  asked  the  captain,  as  he  joined  the  second 
officer  on  the  poop-deck. 

"  I  have  not ;  and  the  fog  is  thicker  than  ever,"  re- 
plied Speers.  "Have  you  looked  at  the  barometer 
lately?  It  feels  like  bad  weather  to  me.  The  sea 
seems  to  have  an  ugly  look,  what  we  can  see  of  it." 

"  I  looked  at  it  just  as  I  came  up ;  and  it  indicates 
a  little  more  wind  than  we  have  been  having  the  last 
twelve  hours ;  but  I  don't  think  it  is  any  thing  very 
bad  that's  coming." 

"  What  was  that  ?  "  said  Tom  Speers,  suddenly  look- 
ing to  the  northward. 

"  Well,  what  was  it  ?  I  didn't  hear  any  thing,"  re- 
plied O'Hara,  gazing  in  the  direction  indicated. 

"  I  don't  know  what  it  was ;  but  it  sounded  like  a 
gun,  or  the  stroke  of  a  bell,"  added  Speers. 

"  Gun  on  the  starboard  quarter,  the  lookout  forward 
reports,"  said  Raymond,  hailing  the  captain  from  the 
main  deck. 

"  All  right :  we  heard  it  here,"  replied  O'Hara.  "  Is 
it  a  gun,  or  a  bell  ?  Report  if  you  hear  it  again,  Mr. 
Raymond." 

"  If  it  was  a  bell,  it  may  be  the  other  vessels  of  the 


YOUNG   AMERICA   HOMEWARD   BOUND.  193 

fleet.  If  it  was  a  gun,  it  was  not  fired  by  the  Josephine 
or  the  Tritonia,  for  the  reason  that  neither  of  them  has 
a  gun  to  fire." 

"  I  hear  it  again ;  and  I  am  sure  it  is  a  bell,"  ex- 
claimed Tom  Speers. 

"  Whisht !  Wait  till  you  hear  another ;  for  the  two 
schooners  are  together,  and  when  one  rings  the  other 
will,  you  may  be  sure,"  added  the  captain,  not  a  little 
excited. 

But  no  other  stroke  of  a  bell  was  heard  for  a  little 
time. 

"  I  know  the  sound  of  the  Tritonia's  bell ;  and  it 
isn't  she,"  said  O'Hara.  "  It  is  a  much  heavier  bell 
we  hear." 

All  hands  listened  again. 


194  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA;    OR, 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE   WRECK   OF   THE    CASTLE   WILLIAM. 

THE  sound  of  the  bell  was  heard  again  in  a  few 
minutes.  It  had  a  heavy  and  dull  tone,  unlike 
that  of  the  bells  of  the  schooners.  •  All  hands  on  the 
Ville  d'Angers  listened  attentively  to  the  sound. 

"  I  think  it  must  be  the  bell  of  one  of  the  consorts," 
said  Capt.  O'Hara,  when  he  had  heard  the  bell  at  least 
a  dozen  times. 

"  It  don't  sound  like  the  bell  of  the  Tritonia,"  replied 
Tom  Speers,  after  he  had  heard  it  once  more.  "  And 
all  the  sounds  are  from  the  same  bell.  If  the  two 
schooners  were  off  in  that  direction,  we  should  hear  the 
bells  of  both  of  them." 

"  I'll  tell  you  what  it  is :  the  fog  makes  the  differ- 
ence in  the  sound  from  what  we  are  ac&ustomed  to 
hear.  We  never  heard  the  bell  except  when  we  were 
on  the  deck  where  it  was  rung.  It  stands  to  reason 
that  it  would  be  another  thing  when  heard  at  a  dis- 
tance, and  in  a  thick  fog,"  continued  the  captain,  who 
wished  the  sound  might  come  from  the  consorts,  and 
was  influenced  by  his  desire. 

The  sound  seemed  to  be  a  long  way  off ;  and  the 
captain  said- it  bothered  him  to  know  how  they  hap- 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  195 

pened  to  hear  it  when  it  was  so  far  off.  He  called  Mr. 
Shakings  and  Capt.  Fairfield,  and  asked  them  to  give, 
their  opinion  in  regard  to  the  tones  of  the  bell.  They 
did  not  think  it  was  the  bell  of  the  Josephine,  to  which 
they  were  more  accustomed  to  listen  on  board ;  but  it 
might  be,  for  bells  sounded  different  under  varying 
circumstances.  At  last  O'Hara  decided  to  run  for  the 
sound  of  the  bell,  and  directed  the  officer  of  the  deck 
to  change  the  course  to  .north,  for  this  was  the  direction 
from  which  the  sound  came. 

Capt.  O'Hara  could  not  reconcile  himself  to  the 
sound  of  the  bell ;  but  he  thought,  as  had  been  sug- 
gested, that  the  condition  of  the  atmosphere  might  alter 
the  tone  of  the  Tritonia's  bell.  He  concluded  that  the 
schooners  had  fallen  off  their  course  as  the  wind  veered, 
and  the  Ville  d'Angers  had  run  ahead  of  them.  This 
was  the  only  explanation  he  could  give  ;  and,  in  the  ab- 
sence of  a  better  one,  it  satisfied  him  for  the  time.  The 
firemen  did  their  duty  now,  though  Shakings  showed 
himself  to  them  once  in  a  while  so  that  they  need  not 
forget  him. 

Every  thing  seemed  to  be  going  well  on  board,  and  a 
sharp  lookout  was  kept  for  the  rest  of  the  fleet  ahead. 
The  bell  to  the  northward  sounded  more  and  more 
distinctly  as  the  steamer  advanced  ;  and  the  nearer  she 
came  to  it,  the  louder  it  sounded. 

"  That  can't  be  the  bell  of  the  Tritonia,"  said  Tom 
Speers,  as  -he  met  the  captain  on  the  poop-deck. 

"Begorra,  I  don't  believe  it  is  !  "  exclaimed  O'Hara, 
in  whose  mind  the  question  had  been  raised  anew. 
"  Upon  my  sowl,  it  is  big  enough  for  a  church-bell ;  and 
we  have  come  nearer  to  it  than  we  were  when  we  first 
heard  it." 


196  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA;    OR, 

"  It  must  be  some  other  vessel,"  added  Speers.  "  It 
isn't  a  steamer,  or  she  would  whistle  in  such  a  fog  as 
this." 

"  No :  sure  it's  not  a  steamer ;  and  what  the  blazes  is 
it  ? "  queried  the  captain,  very  much  puzzled.  "  I  hope 
we  shall  not  miss  the  rest  of  the  fleet." 

"  I  hope  not ;  but,  if  the  schooners  stood  down  to  the 
southward,  we  have  very  little  chance  of  seeing  them 
again,  unless  this  fog  lifts  soon,"  replied  Speers. 

"  Have  you  seen  Gregory  and  Clinch  since  the  ship's 
company  was  stationed  ? "  asked  O'Hara,  suddenly 
changing  the  topic  of  the  conversation,  though  he  did 
not  cease  to  peer  into  the  dense  fog  ahead. 

"  Neither  of  them  has  been  on  deck  since  the  second 
part  of  the  starboard  watch  took  the  deck,"  answered 
Speers. 

"  Where  are  they  ? " 

"  I  don't  know.  They  went  into  the  cabin,  and  I 
suppose  they  are  there  now.  They  have  a  state-room 
together." 

"  I  don't  quite  like  the  conduct  of  Gregory,  who  is 
the  first  officer,"  added  O'Hara,  in  a  low  tone.  "  He 
took  the  trouble  to  tell  me  he  did  not  approve  the 
arrangement  of  the  watches  as  I  had  made  it." 

"  I  dare  say  he  will  assent  to  it,"  added  Tom.  "  I 
don't  know  him  at  all,  and  never  served  in  the  same 
vessel  with  him." 

"  He  used  to  be  a  mighty  hard  boy  at  the  time  he 
was  in  the  steerage  of  the  Young  America ;  but  when 
he  got  into  the  Josephine,  he  reformed  ;  and  Mr.  Flux- 
ion believes  he  has  made  a  man  of  him.  Perhaps  he 
has :  I  don't  know.  If  he  has,  there  has  been  a  big 
change  in  him." 


YOUNG   AMERICA   HOMEWARD    BOUND.  197 

"  Let  us  hope  he  will  be  a  good  officer  while  he  is  on 
board  of  the  steamer." 

"  Certainly  we  will  hope  so ;  but  it  was  a  bad  begin- 
ning for  him  to  object  to  the  arrangement  of  the 
watches  before  he  had  been  on  board  two  hours." 

"  What  does  he  object  to  ?  "  asked  Tom  Speers ;  and 
he  was  willing  to  believe  there  might  be  something 
wrong  about  the  arrangement,  for  it  would  not  be  at 
all  strange  if  a  mistake  had  been  made. 

Tom  thought  it  might  be  possible  that  his  friend  the 
captain  had  been  just  a  little  "airy"  in  his  dealings 
with  the  two  officers  from  the  Josephine,  though  he  had 
never  noticed  any  thing  of  the  kind  in  O'Hara  while 
they  had  been  together  in  the  steamer.  Such  an 
exhibition  would  not  be  very  remarkable  in  a  young 
man,  placed  in  command  of  a  steamer  with  the  arbi- 
trary control  of  thirty  of  his  companions.  He  was 
determined  to  caution  his  friend  in  regard  to  the  mani- 
festation of  any  thing  that  could  be  construed  into  an 
overbearing  or  domineering  spirit.  He  knew  very  well 
from  experience,  that  such  an  appearance  would  excite 
opposition,  if  there  was  none  in  the  beginning. 

"  What  does  he  object  to  ? "  repeated  O'Hara.  "  He 
says  he  objects  to  the  arrangement  of  the  watches." 

"  What  did  you  say  to  him  ?  "  asked  Tom  curiously, 
if  not  anxiously. 

"  I  only  told  him  I  was  sorry  he  didn't  like  it,"  replied 
the  captain,  smiling,  as  though  he  thought  he  had 
answered  the  complaint  very  properly. 

"  Did  he  say  any  thing  more  ?  " 

"  Yes,  he  did  :  he  added  that  he  didn't  think  there 
was  any  need  of  quarter-watches,"  chuckled  O'Hara \ 


198  ISLES    OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

"  and  Clinch  took  the  trouble  to  say  he  didn't  think  so 
either :  as  if  he  considered  it  important  that  I  should 
know  the  first  and  third  officer  were  of  the  same  mind 
on  the  subject." 

O'Hara  talked  and  chuckled  and  laughed  like  one 
who  felt  that  he  occupied  a  strong  position.  He  was 
quite  happy  oyer  it ;  for,  if  there  was  to  be  any  trouble 
on  board,  he  was  altogether  in  the  right,  and  the  other 
party  all  in  the  wrong. 

"  What  did  you  say  then  ?  "  inquired  Tom  Speers, 
desiring  to  know  whether  or  not  there  was  any  founda- 
tion for  his  fears  and  suspicion. 

"  I  told  them  that  showed  we  differed  in  opinion  a 
little  taste ;  and  I  smiled  as  swately  as  though  I  was 
spaking  to  Miss  Louise  in  the  cabin  below.  And  that 
reminds  me  to  say  I  think  the  girl  is  a  little  swate  on 
you,  Tom,  my  boy,  since  you  pulled  her  out  of  the  say," 
said  the  captain,  getting  excited  as  he  proceeded,  and 
relapsing  into  his  Irish  brogue. 

"  Never  mind  the  girl,"  added  Tom  impatiently, 
though  he  blushed  a  little  as  he  turned  away  to  wipe 
off  the  dampness  that  had  gathered  on  his  face  from 
the  fog.  "I  am  not  one  of  your  romantic  pups  who 
think  a  girl  ought  to  be  his  wife  because  he  has 
rendered  her  some  little  service." 

"  Faix,  it  was  no  little  service  you  rendered  her ;  for 
she  was  sure  to  be  drowned  if  you  hadn't  got  to  her 
with  the  life-buoy  as  soon  as  you  did." 

"  Never  mind  that  now,  Capt.  O'Hara,"  interposed 
the  young  hero. 

"  Oh  1  you  are  not  on  duty  now  ;  and  you  needn't 
measure  off  your  words  into  lengths  with  me  just  now," 
said  O'Hara.  with  a  laugh. 


YOUNG   AMERICA   HOMEWARD   BOUND.  199 

"  Do  you  think  Gregory  is  discontented  ? "  asked 
Tom. 

"  If  his  words  come  from  his  heart,  he  is ;  but  that 
is  his  fault,"  replied  the  captain  very  lightly.  "  If  he 
don't  like  the  arrangement  of  the  watches,  he  can't  help 
himself ;  for  I  am  the  commander  of  this  ship." 

"  Excuse  me,  O'Hara,  as  I  am  not  on  duty  just  now, 
if  I  speak  to  you  as  a  friend." 

"  Certainly,  my  boy  :  blaze  away  !  I  won't  put  you  in 
irons  for  any  thing  you  may  say  now,"  added  O'Hara 
curiously ;  for  he  had  not  the  least  idea  that  he  had 
done  any  thing  wrong,  or  even  out  of  taste. 

"  Don't  you  think  it  would  have  been  better  if  you 
had  answered  Gregory  and  Clinch  in  a  little  different 
way  ?  " 

"What  do  you  mane?  Wasn't  I  civil  to  them? 
Didn't  I  smile  as  sweetly  upon  them  as  though  they 
hadn't  raised  a  ghost  of  an  objection  to  the  watches  ? " 

"Of  course  you  are  the  captain,  and  you  were  not 
obliged  to  make  any  explanations  ;  but  don't  you  think 
it  would  have  been  better  if  you  had  been  a  little  more 
conciliatory  toward  Gregory  and  Clinch,  even  if  they 
were  a  little  wrong  ?  "  asked  Tom. 

"  Faix,  I  don't  know :  I  didn't  think  of  that,"  repeat- 
ed O'Hara  thoughtfully.  "They  supposed  it  was  my 
arrangement  they  were  objecting  to  all  the  time,  when 
it  was  the  orders  of  the  senior  vice-principal  himself." 

"  So  much  the  worse,  if  they  thought  the  plan  was 
your  own,"  added  Tom. 

"  Well,  now,  I  thought  it  was  so  much  the  better !  " 
exclaimed  the  captain. 
1   "  So  much  the  better  for  you,  but  so  much  the  worse 


200  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

for  Gregory  and  Clinch,"  continued  Tom.  "  Possibly 
the  first  officer  thought  you  ought  to  have  consulted 
with  him  about  the  arrangement  of  the  watches.  All 
I  mean  to  say  is,  that  it  would  have  been  more  magnan- 
imous to  have  told  Gregory,  when  he  objected,  that  you 
were  only  carrying  out  the  orders  of  the  vice-principal." 

"  Perhaps  you  are  right,  Tom,  my  darling,"  added 
O'Hara,  musing. 

"  It  was  not  in  the  midst  of  an  emergency,  O'Hara  ; 
and  he  did  not  refuse  to  obey  orders.  If  he  had,  and 
you  had  knocked  him  down,  it  would  have  been  all 
right.  It  is  only  fair  to  let  the  first  and  third  officers 
know,  if  they  object  to  any  thing,  that  they  are  kicking 
against  the  senior  vice-principal,  and  not  against  you," 
continued  Tom,  as  sagely  as  though  he  was  a  fit  judge 
to  settle  a  case  between  his  captain  and  an  officer 
above  himself. 

"  That's  all  very  well ;  and  I  think  you  are  right  this 
time,  Tom,  if  you  never  were  before,"  answered  O'Hara. 
"But  am  I  to  m'ake  a  distinction  between  the  en- 
forcement of  my  own  orders  and  those  of  the  powers 
above  me  ?  If  I  tell  the  officer  of  the  deck,  and  it 
happens  to  be  Gregory  or  Clinch,  to  stop  the  engine, 
am  I  to  explain  that  this  is  the  order  of  the  senior  vice- 
principal,  and  not  my  own  ?  or,  if  it  should  be  my  own, 
to  argue  that  it  is  all  right  ? " 

"  Certainly  not ;  nothing  of  the  kind  !  I  said  in  the 
beginning  that  this  was  a  matter  of  magnanimity,  and 
not  of  right.  Your  orders  are  to  be  obeyed  without 
a  question  on  the  part  of  any  one  on  board ;  not  even 
Capt.  Fairfield  or  Mr.  Shakings  having  the  right  to 
object." 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  2OI 

"  I  see :  I  understand  you  perfectly,  Tom,  my  dar- 
lint ;  and  I  am  much  obliged  to  you  for  the  trouble  you 
have  taken  to  say  all  this.  Give  me  your  flipper !  I 
like  you  betther  than  ever,  if  you  are  a  millionnaire  ;  for 
it's  a  good  friend  that  will  point  out  another's 
faults." 

"  I  don't  point  out  your  faults,  O'Hara.  I  am  afraid, 
if  I  were  the  commander  of  this  steamer,  I  should  be  a 
little  'airy;'  and  I  was  dreading  lest  you  might  be, 
though,  upon  my  honor,  I  haven't  seen  any  thing  of  the 
kind  in  you." 

"  It's  moighty  aisy  y'are  on  me,  Tom  ;  and  I  believe 
I  have  been  airy ;  but,  upon  my  sowl,  I'll  never  do  it 
again  !  I  like  you  better  than  if  you  had  given  me  the 
half  of  your  three  millions ;  and  I  wish  you  were  the 
captain  of  the  steamer,  instead  of  myself." 

"  Nonsense,  captain !  You  are  ten  times  as  fit  to 
command  her  as  I  am ;  and  I  am  glad  it  is  as  it  is."' 

"Whisht!" 

"  Vessel  dead  ahead ! "  shouted  the  lookout,  on  the 
jib-boom  of  the  steamer,  where  the  officer  of  the  deck 
had  sent  him  when  the  bell  began  to  be  heard  very 
distinctly  on  the  forecastle  of  the  steamer. 

The  officer  of  the  deck  hastily  repeated  the  cry,  and 
ordered  the  quartermaster  to  put  the  helm  hard  down. 
At  the  same  time  he  rushed  into  the  pilot-house,  and 
rang  the  speed-bell  for  the  engine  to  "  slow  down." 

"  Can  you  make  her  out  ? "  said  the  captain,  gazing 
into  the  dense  fog  ahead. 

"  I  don't  see  any  thing ;  but  we  are  more  than  a  hun- 
dred feet  farther  from  the  vessel  than  the  man  on  the 
forecastle." 


202  ISLES    OF   THE   SEA;    OR, 

"  I  will  go  forward,  then,"  added/D'Hara,  suiting  the 
action  to  the  words. 

Tom  Speers  saw  Gregory  and  Clinch  come  out  of 
the  cabin,  and  follow  the  captain  forward,  and  he  con- 
cluded to  remain  where  he  was ;  for  he  was  off  duty, 
and  he  did  not  care  to  have  the  other  officers  of  the 
steamer  regard  him  as  the  adviser  of  the  captain,  if  the 
commander  asked  him  any  questions. 

The  Ville  d'Angers  slowed  down  in  obedience  to 
the  will  of  the  assistant  engineer  in  charge.  If  the 
lookout  had  been  less  vigilant,  the  steamer  would  have 
struck  the  vessel  ahead  square  on  the  broadside,  and 
that  would  have  been  the  end  of  her.  But  Raymond, 
as  the  officer  of  the  deck,  was  always  exceedingly  care- 
ful ;  and  he  had  spent  most  of  his  time  at  the  heel  of 
the  bowsprit  since  the  position  of  the  craft  was  clearly 
indicated  by  the  sound  of  the  bell.  The  whistle  had 
been  sounded  on  the  steamer  at  short  intervals  ;  and,  as 
it  came  nearer,  the  bell  was  rung  more  vigorously,  so 
that  each  vessel  had  a  clear  idea  of  the  position  of  the 
other. 

Gregory  and  Clinch  went  forward  behind  the  captain, 
and  they  could  not  help  being  considerably  excited  over 
the  prospect  of  some  sort  of  an  adventure.  But  they 
said  nothing  to  O'Hara ;  and  it  was  evident  from  their 
actions  that  they  were  a  little  "  disgruntled." 

"I  believe  O'Hara  has  lost  his  wits,"  said  Gregory, 
in  a  prudently  low  tone.  "It  beats  me  to  know  what 
he  is  chasing  this  vessel  for,  running  some  miles  off  the 
course." 

"  I  suppose  he  thought  that  bell  belonged  to  one  of 
the  schooners,"  added  Clinch. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  203 

"  It  sounds  more  like  one  of  the  bells  of  the  churches 
of  Paris  than  it  does  like  the  Josephine's ;  and  he  might 
have  known  that  it  did  not  belong  to  one  of  the 
schooners,"  growled  the  first  officer. 

The  captain  had  certainly  allowed  the  Ville  d'Angers 
to  continue  on  her  course  to  the  northward  after  he 
and  Tom  Speers  were  reasonably  confident  that  the 
bell  did  not  indicate  the  presence  of  the  other  vessels 
of  the  fleet.  Possibly  O'Hara's  curiosity  had  been 
excited,  and  he  wished  to  see  the  vessel  that  rang  the 
heavy  bell ;  but  it  is  more  likely,  that,  in  the  conver- 
sation which  ensued,  he  had  forgotten  for  the  moment 
that  the  vessel  ahead  could  not  be  either  of  those  for 
which  he  was  in  search.  He  desired  to  satisfy  himself, 
after  he  had  gone  so  far  to  the  north,  —  only  a  few 
miles,  however,  —  that  the  bell  was  not  on  either  of  the 
vessels,  and  that  they  had  not  run  off  in  this  direction. 
By  sweeping  off  a  little  to  the  westward,  on  his  return, 
he  might  fall  into  hearing  distance  of  their  bells  or 
horns. 

"  Do  you  make  her  out,  Mr.  Raymond  ? "  asked 
O'Hara,  as  he  ascended  to  the  top-gallant  forecastle. 

"  Distinctly,  sir,"  replied  the  officer  of  the  deck. 

"What  is  she?" 

"  It  seems  to  be  a  wreck,  with  a  number  of  persons 
on  board  of  her.  All  her  masts  have  been  carried 
away ;  she  has  a  square  sail  rigged  on  a  jury-mast,  and 
is  running  before  the  wind,"  added  Raymond,  as  he 
made  out  the  details  he  mentioned. 

"  I  see  her  now,"  continued  O'Hara,  as  he  traced 
the  outline  of  the  vessel  through  the  dense  mass  of  fog 
which  covered  the  sea. 


2O4  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA;    OR, 

"  We  are  running  by  her,  sir,"  said  Raymond.  "  Shall 
I  stop  her  ?  " 

"  Stop  and  back  her,"  replied  the  captain. 

"  Ring  one  bell !  "  shouted  the  officer  of  the  deck. 

"  One  bell  !  "  responded  the  quartermaster  in  the 
pilot-house  ;  and  he  rang  it. 

"  Ring  two  bells  !  "  added  Raymond. 

"  Two  bells  ! "  repeated  the  man  in  charge  of  the 
wheel ;  and,  when  he  rang  them,  the  screw  began  to 
turn  backwards. 

"Stop. her!  "  said  O'Hara,  when  he  judged  that  her 
headway  was  overcome. 

"  Ring  one  bell !  "  added  Raymond. 

"One  bell,  sir!"  echoed  the  quartermaster;  and  the 
engine  stopped. 

While  this  was  done  on  board  of  the  steamer,  the 
hands  on  the  wreck  let  go  the  halyard  of  the  square 
sail,  and  it  came  down  on  the  deck.  The  hulk  was 
moving  so  slowly  that  it  forged  only  a  little  ahead  of 
the  Ville  d' Angers,  leaving  her  on  the  weather  quarter 
of  the  deck.  From  the  top-gallant  forecastle  of  the 
steamer,  the  officers  had  a  tolerably  clear  view  of  the 
dismasted  vessel,  which  might  have  been  a  ship  or  a 
barque,  for  the  stumps  of  her  three  masts  could  be 
distinctly  seen.  She  was  painted  green,  and  looked 
like  a  very  old  vessel,  for  her  bow  was  as  stunt-built  as 
the  craft  of  a  hundred  years  ago. 

"  Hail  her,  Mr.  Raymond,  and  let  us  ascertain  what 
we  can  of  her,"  said  Capt.  O'Hara. 

"  Ship  ahoy ! "  shouted  the  officer  of  the  deck, 
through  the  speaking-trumpet  which  had  been  supplied 
by  Mr.  Fluxion ;  for  this  instrument  meant  twice  as 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  205 

much  to  him  as  to  any  other  officer  in  the  squad- 
ron. 

"  On  board  the  steamer !  "  replied  a  man  on  the 
deck  of  the  hulk. 

"  What  vessel  is  that  ?  " 

"  The  ship  Castle  William,  from  Calcutta  to  Ports- 
mouth, with  invalid  troops !  "  yelled  the  man  on  the 
deck  of  the  wreck ;  and  there  seemed  to  be  not  more 
than  three  men  on  duty  there. 

"  Tell  him  we  will  send  a  boat  on  board,"  said  the 
captain  ;  and  Raymond  repeated  the  words. 

"Don't  do  it!"  shouted  the  man  earnestly.  "We 
have  small-pox  and  typhoid-fever  on  board." 

"  Phew !  here's  a  nice  kettle  of  fish  ! "  exclaimed 
O'Hara. 

"  Keep  to  windward,  and  come  a  little  nearer ! " 
called  the  spokesman  of  the  wreck. 

The  captain  gave  the  necessary  orders  to  back  the 
Ville  d'Angers,  and  run  up  a  little  nearer  to  the  wreck. 
Taking  the  suggestion  of  the  man  on  the  hulk,  he 
thought  there  would  not  be  any  danger  in  going  to 
windward  of  her. 

"  Do  you  hear  that,  Clinch  ?  "  said  Gregory,  with  no 
little  excitement  in  his  manner.  "  There  is  small-pox 
and  typhoid-fever  on  board  of  that  wreck ;  and  O'Hara 
is  going  to  get  nearer  to  her." 

"  I  don't  like  the  idea,"  added  Clinch. 

"  Capt.  O'Hara,  I  protest  against  going  any  nearer 
to  that  vessel ! "  said  Gregory,  walking  up  to  the  cap- 
tain, and  touching  his  cap  as  he  spoke.  "  She  has 
contagious  diseases  on  board  of  her  ;  and  we  shall  all 
take  them." 


206  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA;    OR, 

"  There  is  no  danger,  I  think,  while  we  keep  well  to 
windward  of  her.  The  breeze  is  pretty  fresh,  and  I 
don't  believe  the  disease  can  travel  up  against  it," 
replied  O'Hara,  mindful  of  what  had  passed  between 
Tom  Speers  and  himself,  though  he  was  at  first  inclined 
to  make  no  reply  to  the  protest. 

"  I  don't  think  it  is  safe  :  I  protest,  and  insist  that 
the  steamer  be  put  on  her  course  to  the  Madeiras !  " 
added  Gregory,  in  a  very  offensive  manner. 

"Shall  we  abandon  this  wreck,  without  even  ascer- 
taining whether  or  not  she  needs  any  assistance  ? " 
demanded  O'Hara,  with  some  indignation  in  his  tones. 

"You  need  not  go  any  nearer  to  her,  at  any  rate," 
replied  Gregory,  somewhat  shaken  by  this  argument; 
for  all  the  students  had  been  thoroughly  schooled  in 
the  lesson  of  humanity,  that  every  sailor  was  bound  to 
assist  every  other  sailor  in  distress. 

The  captain  made  no  further  reply  to  the  first  officer. 
Possibly  he  did  not  run  the  steamer  as  near  to  the 
wreck,  for  he  directed  the  course,  as  he  might  have 
done  if  Gregory  had  said  nothing. 

The  Ville  d'Angers  was  stopped  on  the  quarter  of 
the  wreck,  and  at  about  half  a  cable's  length  from  it. 

"  How  many  have  you  on  board  ?  "  asked  O'Hara, 
taking  the  trumpet  from  the  officer  of  the  deck. 

"Thirty-two,  "  replied  the  spokesman  of  the  wreck. 

"  Are  you  the  captain  ?  " 

"No  ;  he  is  down  with  fever:  I  am  the  mate." 

"  How  many  sick  have  you  ?  " 

"All  but  three  men, — myself  and  two  seamen.  Five 
of  the  crew  have  died,  and  eight  are  sick." 

It  appeared  from  the  answers  of  the  mate,  that  the 


YOUNG  AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  207 

Castle  William  had  left  Calcutta  with  a  crew  of  sixteen, 
including  the  officers.  She  had  in  her  steerage  twenty- 
one  disabled  soldiers,  among  whom  the  typhoid-fever 
had  broken  out  after  she  left  St.  Helena,  where  she 
had  put  in  for  supplies.  At  this  place  she  had  received 
a  sailor  to  work  his  passage  ;  and,  when  the  ship  had 
been  out  a  week,  he  was  taken  down  with  the  small- 
pox. They  had  made  a  place  for  him  in  the  head ;  but 
five  of  the  crew  had  already  died  with  this  disease  and 
the  fever.  Six  more  were  sick  with  the  fever,  and  two 
with  the  small-pox. 

Certainly  it  was  a  terrible  state  Of  things  on  board 
of  the  wreck,  which  had  been  short-handed,  and  was 
thrown  on  her  beam-ends  in  the  recent  gale,  or  hurri- 
cane the  mate  called  it.  The  three  men  had  cut 
the  masts,  and  this  had  righted  her. 


208  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 


CHAPTER    XV. 

A   CHANGE   OF   DESTINATION. 

MR.  FRISBONE  had  gone  down  into  the  fire-room 
as  soon  as  the  order  was  given  to  slow  down,  in 
order  to  see  that  the  firemen  did  not  do  any  mischief 
to  the  boilers  or  engine  by  too  much  firing  while  the 
steam  was  not  used.  But  the  men  seemed  to  be  very 
well  disposed,  and  had  opened  the  furnace-doors  when 
the  engineer  on  duty  gave  the  order.  The  spare  steam 
was  blowing  off  at  the  same  time.  As  the  Prince  was 
thus  engaged  in  preventing  a  catastrophe  in  the  engine 
or  fire  room,  he  did  not  learn  the  condition  of  things 
on  board  of  the  Castle  William  till  the  captain  sent  for 
him  and  for  all  the  adult  officers  on  board  of  the  Ville 
d' Angers.  It  was  a  desperate  case  which  the  young 
officers  were  called  upon  to  settle ;  and  O'Hara  was 
disposed  to  take  the  advice  of  all  that  were  older  and 
wiser  than  himself. 

"  Do  you  need  assistance  ?  "  asked  O'Hara,  after  he 
had  sent  for  the  adult  portion  of  the  ship's  company. 
But  it  seemed  like  a  foolish  question  to  ask  ;  for  here 
was  a  dismasted  hulk,  on  board  of  which  were  thirty- 
two  human  beings,  all  but  three  of  whom  were  dis- 
abled. There  were  not  well  ones  enough  to  take  care 


VOUNG   AMERICA   HOMEWARD    BOUND.  209 

of  the  sick,  to  say  nothing  of  handling  the  vessel.  If 
left  to  themselves,  they  must  all  miserably  perish  in  a 
few  days,  for  the  storms  of  the  Bay  of  Biscay  would 
soon  make  an  end  of  the  unmanageable  hulk.  Of 
course  she  needed  assistance ;  and  it  would  be  in- 
human in  the  last  degree  to  refuse  it. 

"  We  need  assistance  very  badly,"  replied  the  mate 
of  the  Castle  William.  "  We  must  all  die  of  disease  or 
go  to  the  bottom,  without  it." 

"  Do  you  need  provisions  and  stores  ? "  inquired 
O'Hara. 

"We  have  provisions  enough,  but  we  want  fresh 
vegetables  and  stores  for  the  sick." 

"We  will  send  you  what  we  have,"  replied  the  young 
captain.  "  What  else  do  you  want  ? " 

"  We  can  never  get  into  port  on  this  wreck.  She  has 
a  very  valuable  cargo  in  the  hold." 

"  Do  you  wish  for  more  seamen  ? " 

"  If  we  had  a  hundred  men,  they  could  hardly  save 
the  ship  if  it  came  on  heavy  weather.  Will  you  tow 
the  wreck  into  port?"  asked  the  mate;  and  this  last 
request  was  evidently  what  he  had  desired  to  reach  from 
the  beginning. 

"  We  will  consider  it,"  replied  Capt.  O'Hara,  not  a 
little  startled  at  the  request. 

"  Our  sick  people  are  well  provided  for ;  and  this  is 
the  best  thing  you  can  do  for  us.  You  will  make  a 
good  thing  by  it." 

By  this  time  the  Prince,  Capt.  Fan-field,  and  the  adult 
forward  officers,  had  gathered  in  the  pilot-house  for 
consultation.  O'Hara  stated  the  situation  of  the  wreck 
and  the  people  on  board  of  it.  He  laid  before  the 


210  .  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA;    OR, 

council  all  the  information  he  had  obtained  from  the 
mate  of  the  Castle  William  ;  but  he  expressed  no  opin- 
ion or  desire  on  his  own  part.  He  wished  to  hear  the 
opkiion  of  his  elders  before  he  gave  his  own. 

Mr.  Frisbone  listened  very  attentively  to  the  state- 
ment of  the  captain  ;  and  he  did  not  speak  a  word  till 
O'Hara  had  said  all  he  had  to  say. 

"  I  want  your  advice,"  continued  the  captain.  "  Of 
course  it  was  not  supposed,  when  I  was  placed  in 
command  of  the  Ville  d'Angers,  that  I  should  be  called 
upon  to  settle  such  big  questions  as  this  one." 

"  But  I  have  faith  to  believe  that  you  would  settle  it 
right,"  added  the  Prince.  "  There  is  only  one  thing  to 
be  done  in  a  case  like  this;  and  all  the  lawyers  and 
doctors  of  divinity  in  the  world  couldn't  make  our 
duty  any  plainer  to  us ;  and  that  is,  to  relieve  the  dis- 
tressed, and  at  any  cost  of  labor  and  trouble." 

"  That's  the  talk !  "  shouted  the  impulsive  and  warm- 
hearted Shakings,  bringing  his  fist  down  upon  the  wheel 
with  force  enough  to  break  his  bones  or  split  the  wood. 
"  Your  honor  is  a  sailor  at  heart,  if  you  never  did  come 
in  at  the  hawse-hole,  and  feel  your  way  to  the  quarter- 
deck ! " 

So  said  Rimmer  in  his  slower  and  more  heavy  tones. 

"  But  there  will  be  great  risk  in  exposing  the  young 
gentlemen  to  small-pox  and  ship-fever,"  suggested 
Capt.  Fairfield :  not  that  he  intended  to  object  to  the 
performance  of  a  humane  duty,  but  because  he  desired 
to  have  both  sides  of  the  question  considered ;  and 
there  were  thirty-one  young  lives  to  be  cared  for,  as 
well  as  thirty-two  older  ones. 

"  I  think    we    ought  to  save  a  fellow-creetur  from 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  211 

death  when  the  risk  of  losing  our  own  lives  is  no 
greater  than  the  chance  of  saving  them  that's  in  dan- 
ger," replied  the  Prince  emphatically.  "That's  my 
doctrine  !  " 

"  Your  honor  was  cut  out  for  a  sailor ;  and  you 
missed  your  calling,  that  you  are  not  now  in  command 
of  the  finest  ship  afloat ! "  exclaimed  Shakings,  with 
enthusiasm. 

"  That's  all  gammon,  Mr.  What's-your-name,"  said 
the  Prince. 

"  My  name  is  Shakings." 

"  I  should  think  it  might  be  ;  but  do  you  suppose 
all  the  good  feeling  and  humanity  in  the  world  belong 
to  sailors  ?  "  demanded  the  Prince.  "  That's  only  the 
shakings  of  a  bad  logic." 

"  Your  honor  proves  that  the  sailors  haven't  all  the 
good  feeling  in  the  world." 

"  If  you  are  an  American  citizen,  don't  call  any  man 
'  your  honor,'  unless  it  is  the  judge  on  the  bench.  You 
are  getting  things  mixed  up  with  them  lords  and  dooks 
on  this  side  of  the  ocean,"  continued  the  Prince  re- 
proachfully. "  I  call  myself  an  American  Prince ;  and 
I  don't  eat  dirt  before  any  man,  and  I  don't  like  to 
see  other  princes  do  it." 

"  It  is  the  first  duty  of  an  American  sailor  to  be  re- 
spectful to  his  betters ;  and  I  use  the  lingo  I  learned, 
because  I  am  in  the  habit  of  doing  so  when  I  see  a 
man  do  a  handsome  thing,  as  your  honor  always  does," 
said  Shakings  with  a  laugh. 

"  This  is  neither  here  nor  there  ;  only  I  don't  like 
to  see  any  flunkying  at  any  time.  We  are  called  upon  to 
give  some  advice  to  the  captain ;  though,  in  my  opinion, 
he  don't  need  any." 


212  ISLES    OF   THE   SEA;    OR, 

"  I  believe  we  are  giving  it ;  and  I  suppose  he  under- 
stands what  we  all  think  about  it  by  this  time,"  contin- 
ued Shakings. 

"  If  I  comprehend  the  views  of  Capt.  Fairfield,  he 
objects  to  rendering  assistance  in  the  present  instance, 
as  it  would  expose  our  ship's  company  to  these  conta- 
gious diseases,"  added  the  captain,  turning  to  the  in- 
structor of  the  Ville  d' Angers. 

"  By  no  means  !  "  protested  Capt.  Fairfield  warmly. 
"  I  should  feel  guilty  to  the  end  of  my  life  if  we  should 
leave  these  poor  people  to  perish  without  giving  them 
all  the  aid  in  our  power." 

Shakings  thought  the  instructor  had  spoken  like  a 
"  sodger "  before  ;  and  his  present  speech  was  more 
like  that  of  a  sailor. 

"  Then  there  appears  to  be  no  disagreement  among 
you,  gentlemen,"  added  Capt.  O'Hara.  "  I  agree  with 
you  that  the  people  on  the  wreck  ought  to  be  relieved." 

"  Spoken  like  a  true  sailor  !  "  ejaculated  Shakings. 

"Or  like  a  true  soldier  !  "  exclaimed  the  Prince. 

"  Thank  you,  Mr.  Frisbone  ;  and  I  won't  stop  to  tell 
you  what  soldiers  have  done  a  thousand  times  for  those 
in  distress,"  added  Capt.  Fairfield. 

"  We  are  to  assist  the  people  on  the  wreck,"  inter- 
posed the  captain.  "  How,  and  to  what  extent,  is  the 
next  question.  —  Mr.  Raymond,  keep  the  whistle  going 
every  five  minutes." 

"  We  are  doing  so,  sir,"  replied  the  officer  of  the 
deck,  who  was  planking  the  forecastle. 

O'Hara  stated  that  the  sufferers  on  the  wreck 
needed  no  provisions,  only  fresh  vegetables  and  com- 
forts for  the  sick.  As  the  steamer  was  abundantly  pro- 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  213 

vided  with  the  former,  it  was  promptly  decided  to  send 
all  that  could  be  spared  of  them.  As  to  comforts  for 
the  sick,  which  they  understood  to  include  medicines, 
the  Prince  declared  that  he  would  consult  his  wife,  who 
was  one  of  the  best  nurses  in  the  world,  and  had  saved 
his  life  when  the  doctors  gave  him  up,  by  her  intelligent 
care.  The  benevolent  gentleman  was  on  the  point  of 
starting  for  the  cabin,  when  the  captain  interposed. 

"  We  have  not  settled  the  worst  and  hardest  question 
of  the  whole,  Mr.  Frisbone,"  said  O'Hara.  "  I  have  an 
opinion  on  the  subject;  but  I  wish  for  your  advice." 

"  What  on  airth  comes  now  ?  "  demanded  the  Prince, 
closing  the  door  he  had  opened. 

Since  his  wife  had  become  Mrs.  Frisbone,  and  they 
had  crossed  the  ocean,  she  had  been  doing  her  best  to 
improve  the  grammar  and  pronunciation  of  the  Prince; 
and  she  had  succeeded  wonderfully  well,  considering 
the  hard  subject  she  had  to  deal  with.  He  talked  toler- 
ably well  under  ordinary  circumstances ;  but  when  he 
was  dealing  with  a  great  question,  or  became  Very  much 
excited,  it  was  observable  that  he  relapsed  into  nearly 
all  his  old  barbarisms  of  speech. 

"  The  mate  of  the  Castle  William  wishes  the  steamer 
to  tow  the  wreck  into  port,"  added  O'Hara. 

"  Into  port !  "  exclaimed  the  Prince. 

"  He  does  not  say  what  port ;  but  the  ship  was 
bound  to  Portsmouth,  England." 

"  Where  is  that  ?  "  asked  the  Prince,  whose  geography 
was  sometimes  at  fault. 

"  It  is  close  by  Southampton." 

"  That's  not  the  nearest  port  ?  " 

"  By  no  means.     We  are  not  more  than  three  hun- 


214  ISLES    OF    THE    SEA  j     OR, 

dred  nautical  miles  from  Lisbon  ;  and  about  the  same 
from  Cadiz." 

"  I  expect,  with  those  diseases  on  board,  that  the 
Spaniards,  the  Portuguese,  or  even  the  English  at  Gib- 
raltar, would  keep  the  people  on  the  wreck  in  quaran- 
tine for  about  forty  days  ;  and  the  chances  are  that 
most  of  them  would  never  see  England  again,"  said 
Mr.  Rimmer. 

"  How  far  is  it  to  Southampton  ?  "   asked  the  Prince. 

O'Hara  went  to  the  chart-room,  measured  off  the  dis- 
tance, and  returned  to  the  pilot-house. 

"  I  make  it  about  twelve  hundred  miles,"  he  said,  as 
he  joined  the  circle. 

"  I  don't  believe  in  taking  this  steamer  into  a  French 
or  Spanish  port,"  added  the  Prince.  "  I  think  that 
as  much  as  one-half  of  her  belongs  to  the  academy 
squadron,  as  salvage ;  and  a  port  in  England  is  the 
best  place  to  have  the  business  properly  fixed  up." 

"  The  mate  of  the  Castle  William  says  she  has  a 
valuable  cargo  in  her  hold  ;  and  I  suppose  we  shall  be 
entitled  to  salvage  in  her,"  suggested  the  captain. 

"  Of  course  you  will ;  and  I  don't  think  Mr.  Lowing- 
ton  will  lose  any  thing  if  we  should  take  the  wreck  to 
—  that  place  you  mentioned." 

"Portsmouth." 

No  one  objected  to  this  business  view  of  the  situa- 
tion •  and  it  was  in  council  agreed,  that  it  would  be 
expedient  to  tow  the  wreck  to  Portsmouth  in  preference 
to  any  port  on  the  Spanish  peninsula. 

"  I  am  confident  that  if  Mr.  Lowington  or  Mr. 
Fluxion  were  here,  he  would  send  the  steamer  to  Eng- 
land with  the  wreck,"  said  Mr.  Shakings. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  215 

"But  I  desire  to  do  all  I  can  to  find  the  consorts 
before  we  do  any  thing,"  interposed  O'Hara.  "  When 
that  is  done,  I  am  willing  to  act  on  my  own  responsi- 
bility, with  your  advice." 

"  There  is  no  let-up  in  the  fog,"  added  Mr.  Rimrner, 
as  he  took  a  long  look  on  all  sides  of  the  steamer. 

It  was  decided  to  wait  till  it  could  be  ascertained 
whether  or  not  the  Josephine  and  the  Tritonia  were 
anywhere  in  the  vicinity.  The  boatswain  and  the  car- 
penter were  instructed  to  fire  the  gun,  which  the  Prince 
had  used  so  effectually  on  the  night  of  the  collision, 
every  thirty  minutes  during  the  rest  of  the  day,  or  until 
the  fog  cleared  off.  The  first  gun  was  discharged 
immediately.  At  the  moment  of  the  report,  the  quar- 
termaster struck  eight  bells  in  the  pilot-house ;  and  it 
was  repeated  on  the  great  bell  forward. 

"  All  the  port  watch  on  deck  !  "  shouted  the  acting 
boatswain's  mate,  as  he  piped  the  call  through  the  ship. 

It  was  the  first  dog-watch  •  and  the  first  part  of  the 
port-watch  had  the  deck  for  one  hour.  It  was  in 
charge  of  Gregory  ;  and  Raymond  gave  him  the  orders 
he  had  received,  and  handed  him  the  trumpet  as  the 
indication  of  his  authority.  But  there  was  nothing 
to  do  on  board,  except  to  keep  a  sharp  lookout,  and  to 
give  the  fog-signals. 

The  stewards  had  been  directed  to  get  out  the  vege- 
tables to  be  sent  to  the  wreck  ;  and  they  were  attend- 
ing to  this  duty.  About  a  dozen  boxes  of  onions, 
turnips,  and  potatoes,  and  a  smaller  variety  of  other 
vegetables,  were  now  in  readiness  at  the  gangway  to  be 
conveyed  to  the  Castle  William.  In  the  mean  time 
the  American  Prince  had  gone  into  the  cabin  to  con- 


2l6  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  j    OR, 

suit  his  wife  in  regard  to  the  needs  of  the  sick  on  board 
of  the  vessel. 

Mrs.  Frisbone  had  been  seasick  for  several  days ; 
but  she  had  now  completely  recovered.  The  motion  of 
the-  steamer,  even  while  she  was  hove  to,  was  quite 
easy ;  and  the  lady  was  sitting  at  the  table  in  the  after- 
cabin,  as  the  part  in  the  stern  which  was  separated 
from  the  rest  by  the  curtain  was  called.  Miss  Rod- 
wood  was  at  her  side ;  and  both  of  them  listened  with 
the  deepest  interest  to  the  story  of  the  Prince. 

"I  want  you  to  see  about  getting  together  some 
things  to  send  to  these  poor  people,"  said  the  Prince, 
when  he  had  finished  his  narrative.  "  Perhaps  you 
can  tell  what  medicines  they  need,  and  get  them  out  of 
the  chist." 

"  I  will  get  them  out  of  the  chest  "  — 

"  Out  of  the  chest,  and  not  out  of  the  chist,"  added 
Mr.  Frisbone,  with  a  laugh.  "  I  suppose  we  ought  to 
let  'em  all  die  while  we  make  the  chist  into  a  chest." 

"  Not  so  bad  as  that ;  but  chist  is  particularly  bad 
pronunciation.  I  cannot  tell  what  the  sick  sailors  and 
soldiers  need  in  the  way  of  medicines  without  seeing 
them,"  protested  the  lady. 

"  But  they  are  all  sick  with  contagious  diseases ! " 
exclaimed  the  Prince. 

"  I  have  had  the  small-pox,  and  I  am  not  afraid  of 
that.  I  have  taken  care  of  many  people  who  were 
sick  with  the  typhoid-fever,  of  which  ship-fever  is  only 
another  form.  I  will  go  on  board  of  the  ship,  and  do 
all  I  can  for  the  poor  creatures,"  replied  Mrs.  Frisbone 
earnestly. 

"  You,  my  dear  ? " 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  217 

"  I  never  yet  shrunk  from  doing  my  duty ,  and  I 
shall  not  now,"  added  the  lady. 

"  I  will  go  with  you,  sister  !  "  exclaimed  Miss  E.od- 
wood. 

"  You  will  not  expose  her  to  these  diseases  ? "  de- 
manded Mr.  Frisbone,  not  a  little  alarmed  at  the  propo- 
sition. 

"  I  cannot  prevent  her  from  doing  a  duty  which  is  as 
binding  upon  her  as  it  is  upon  me,"  replied  Mrs.  Fris- 
bone, with  a  sort  of  solemnity  that  greatly  impressed 
her  husband. 

"  Very  well ;  and  I  shall  go  with  you,"  continued  the 
benevolent  American  noble.  "  If  it  is  your  duty,  — 
and  I  don't  dispute  that  it  is,  —  it  is  as  much  mine,  and 
I  shall  share  it  with  you.  But  we  must  not  expose  any 
of  these  boys  to  the  contagion.  I  wouldn't  have  one 
of  them  catch  the  small-pox  or  the  ship-fever  for  a 
million  dollars.  I  haven't  any  thing  in  particular  to  do 
on  board  of  this  vessel  ;  and  I  can  just  as  well  be  on 
board  of  the  other,  doing  what  I  can  to  make  the  sick 
comfortable." 

The  adults  and  the  officers  were  astonished  when 
the  decision  of  the  Frisbone  party  was  announced. 
Capt.  Fairfield  and  O'Hara  did  their  best  to  reason 
them  out  of  the  purpose  ;  but  that  was  useless.  Mrs. 
Frisbone  declared  that  God  had  given  her  this  duty  to 
perform,  and  she  should  be  recreant  to  her  trust  if  she 
failed  to  do  it.  This  was  her  opportunity  to  do  the 
will  of  Heaven  ;  and  she  could  no  more  neglect  it  than 
she  could  refuse  her  daily  bread. 

"  If  I  take  any  disease,  and  die,  I  shall  die  at  the 
post  of  duty ;  and  I  should  be  afraid  to  die  anywhere 


2l8  ISLES    OF   THE    SEA;    OR, 

else,"  said  the  heroic  woman ;  "  and  I  shall  not  have 
lived  in  vain.  Louise  can  do  as  she  pleases.  I  do  not 
ask  her  or  my  husband  to  go  with  me." 

"But  Miss  Rodwood  has  been  an  invalid,  and  it  will 
be  a  pretty  severe  experience  for  her  to  act  as  a  nurse 
on  board  of  a  mere  hulk,  taking  care  of  soldiers  and 
sailors,"  said  Capt.  Fairfield. 

"  Perhaps  it  is  just  the  experience  my  sister  needs  ; 
and  it  may  prove  to  be  a  blessing  to  her,"  replied  Mrs. 
Frisbone.  "  If  she  can  put  her  whole  mind  to  this 
humane  task,  I  am  sure  it  will  be  a  benefit  to  her." 

The  lady  evidently  had  views  of  her  own  on  this 
subject ;  and,  as  it  appeared  that  her  sister's  mind  was 
somewhat  affected,  it  was  possible  that  she  understood 
the  case  better  than  any  other  person. 

The  next  thing  was  to  get  the  devoted  party  on 
board  of  the  wreck  without  exposing  any  of  the  stu- 
dents to  the  danger  of  infection.  O'Hara  studied  the 
case,  and  talked  it  over  with  the  carpenter  and  boat- 
swain. It  was  not  prudent  to  board  the  Castle  William 
on  the  weather  side,  for  the  sea  would  be  likely  to 
stave  tjje  boat  against  her  sides.  If  it  went  to  leeward, 
the  crew  of  the  boat  would  be  exposed  to  the  peril  of 
the  pestilential  air  from  the  ship.  At  last  it  was  de- 
cided that  none  of  the  students  should  go  in  the  boat 
that  conveyed  the  passengers  and  stores.  The  Prince, 
the  adult  forward  officers,  and  one  of  the  stewards, 
were  to  act  as  oarsmen.  The  stores  were  sent  first;  and 
they  were  hoisted  by  the  three  well  men  on  board  of 
the  ship.  The  ladies  who  had  been  so  unwilling  to  be 
lowered  in  a  boat  when  the  object  was  to  save  their 
own  lives  were  let  down  into  the  cutter  in  a  sling ;  and 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  219 

they  were  safely  hoisted  on  board  of  the  Castle  Wil- 
liam. The  boat  returned  with  all  its  crew  except  the 
Prince. 

The  Ville  d'Angers  then  ran  off  a  considerable  dis- 
tance from  the  wreck,  as  far  as  she  could  and  not  lose 
sight  of  it.  It  was  very  quiet  on  deck  and  in  the  cabin. 
The  vessel  was  rolling  in  the  sea,  and  there  was  noth- 
ing to  be  done  but  to  wait  for  the  fog  to  lift.  Gregory, 
the  officer  of  the  deck,  was  like  a  monarch  without  a 
kingdom ;  and  when  Clinch  came  in  his  way,  he  in- 
sisted that  it  was  dull  music. 

The  steamer  had  been  turned  head  to  the  sea,  and 
the  screw  was  revolved  just  enough  to  keep  the  vessel 
from  drifting  upon  the  Castle  William.  When  she  was 
in  danger  of  losing  sight  of  the  wreck,  the  engine  was 
stopped  for  a  time.  But  the  quartermaster  attended  to 
all  this  business,  and  to  the  sounding  of  the  whistle. 

"  I  wish  I  was  back  in  the  Josephine  again,"  said 
Gregory  when  he  met  Clinch. 

"  Why  so  ?  This  isn't  a  bad  craft  to  be  on  board 
of,"  replied  the  third  officer. 

"  This  steamer  is  officered  by  about  all  the  Tritonia's 
fellows,"  growled  Gregory.  "  Those  that  came  from 
the  Josephine  are  mere  ciphers.  O'Hara  hasn't  spo- 
ken a  word  to  me  since  we  made  out  that  wreck ;  and 
I  am  the  first  officer  of  the  steamer." 

Clinch  did  not  say  any  thing ;  but  he  thought  the 
captain  had  not  much  encouragement  to  consult  his 
first  officer,  who  had  done  nothing  but  object,  and  pro- 
test when  he  did  any  thing. 

"  I  suppose  he  had  made  up  his  plan  ;  but  he  hasn't 
said  any  thing  to  me  about  it,"  continued  Gregory. 


220  ISLES    OF    THE    SEA;    OR, 

"  He  has  put  the  Frisbones  on  board  of  the  wreck,  and 
sent  off  all  the  vegetables  we  had  on  board.  We  may 
get  the  scurvy  for  the  want  of  them.  Now  we  are  as 
fast  here  as  though  we  were  aground." 

"  What  are  we  waiting  for  ?  "  asked  Clinch. 

"  I  don't  know.  Don't  I  keep  saying  the  captain 
don't  tell  me  what  is  going  on  ? "  snarled  Gregory,  as 
though  he  were  anxious  to  find  a  sufficient  cause  for 
getting  up  a  mutiny. 

And  so  the  day  wore  away.  In  the  eveping  the  fog 
lifted ;  but  nothing  could  be  seen  of  the  two  schooners, 
for  they  were  far  on  their  way  to  Madeira.  But  O'Hara 
was  not  quite  satisfied  to  undertake  such  an  enterprise 
as  had  been  agreed  upon,  until  it  was  no  longer  possi- 
ble to  confer  with  the  vice-principals  of  the  squadron. 
»As  the  night  was  clear,  he  decided  to  run  for  three 
hours  to  the  south-west,  and  return  if  he  found  nothing 
of  the  rest  of  the  fleet.  At  midnight,  when  the  steamer 
was  over  forty  miles  from  the  Castle  William,  nothing 
could  be  seen  of  the  lights  of  the  Josephine  and  Trito- 
nia  ;  and,  very  unwillingly,  he  ordered  the  Ville  d'An- 
gers  to  be  headed  to  the  north-east.  After  a  run  of 
less  than  three  hours,  the  wreck  was  readily  found,  for 
lights  were  exhibited  on  board  as  before  she  lost  her 
masts.  Raymond,  who  was  in  charge  of  the  deck  of 
the  Ville  d'Angers,  hailed  the  wreck,  and  was  answered 
by  Mr.  Frisbone.  The  wind  was  freshening,  but  the 
sea  was  tolerably  smooth. 

O'Hara  was  still  up,  though  he  had  taken  a  little 
nap,  and  directed  the  steamer  to  be  run  as  close  as 
possible  to  the  hulk  ;  and  a  small  line  was  heaved  to 
her  deck  by  Shakings.  With  this  the  heavy  hawser  of 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  221 

the  ship  was  drawn  over  the  stern  of  the  steamer,  where 
it  was  made  fast.  While  the  boatswain  was  attending 
to  the  securing  of  the  hawser,  O'Hara  and  the  Prince 
had  some  talk  about  the  condition  of  the  sick.  They 
were  all  comfortable ;  and  Mrs.  Frisbone  had  worked 
out  a  revolution  in  the  state  of  things  between  decks. 
The  captain  laughed  when  the  Prince  said  he  had  been 
at  work  whitewashing  since  he  came  on  board. 

When  the  hawser  was  ready,  O'Hara  gave  the  order 
to  go  ahead ;  and  the  steamer  started  on  her  voyage  to 
England. 


222  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

THE  WINE-ROOM   OF   THE  VILLE   D*ANGERS. 

THE  VILLE  D'ANGERS  had  been  under  way 
hardly  an  hour  when  the  quartermaster  in  the 
pilot-house  struck  eight  bell's  ;  and  the  first  part  of 
the  port-watch  was  called  to  relieve  the  second  part 
of  the  starboard.  Gregory  was  the  officer  of  this  divis- 
ion, as  Raymond  had  been  of  the  last. 

"  North,  half  east,"  said  Raymond,  giving  the  course 
to  his  successor  in  charge  of  the  vessel. 

"  North,  half  east !  "  exclaimed  Gregory ;  and  though 
it  was  his  duty  to  repeat  the  course  as  it  was  given  to 
him,  in  order  to  prevent  any  mistake,  it  was  not  neces- 
sary for  him  to  say  it  with  such  a  tone  of  disgust. 

"  That's  the  course  we  have  been  running  for  the  last 
hour,"  replied  Raymond  quietly.  "  The  officer  of  the 
deck  will  keep  a  sharp  lookout  for  the  tow." 

"  For  the  tow  ?  "  queried  Gregory,  as  the  fourth  offi- 
cer repeated  the  orders  which  were  required  to  be 
given  to  his  successor  in  charge  of  the  deck.  "  What 
do  you  mean  by  the  tow  ?  " 

"  Of  course  you  are  aware  that  the  steamer  is  towing 
the  hulk  of  the  Castle  William  ? " 

"  I  was  not  aware  of  it,"  answered  Gregory.    "  When 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  223 

I  turned  in  at  four  bells  last  night,  the  steamer  was 
headed  to  the  southward  and  westward." 

"  We  returned  to  the  wreck  before  three,  after  an 
unsuccessful  search  for  the  rest  of  the  fleet.  We  took 
the  Castle  William  in  tow ;  and  now  we  are  bound  for 
Portsmouth,  England.  If  you  were  not  informed  in 
regard  to  the  movements  of  the  steamer,  I  think  you 
were  the  only  officer  on  board  who  was  in  the  dark." 

Gregory  and  Clinch  were  jealous  of  the  officers  of 
the  Tritonia.  They  had  begun  to  object  in  the  first  of 
the  cruise,  and  even  before  the  steamer  was  under  way. 
They  had  kept  out  of  sight  of  the  other  officers,  and 
had  avoided  the  captain  as  far  as  they  could.  Gregory 
had  been  in  charge  when  the  steamer  started  for  the 
south,  after  the  fog  lifted.  O'Hara  had  tried  to  talk 
with  him  ;  but  he  was  so  stiff  and  distant  that  the  cap- 
tain gave  it  up,  and  allowed  him  to  live  within  his  own 
shell.  He  had  been  relieved  by  Clinch  at  ten  in  the 
evening  •,  and  the  third  officer  was  no  more  inclined  to 
be  sociable  than  the  first. 

At  midnight  Speers  had  been  called;  and,  as  soon 
as  he  took  the  trumpet,  the  course  of  the  steamer  had 
been  changed  to  the  northward  again.  In  the  last  half 
of  this  watch,  when  Raymond  had  the  deck,  the  wreck 
had  been  taken  in  tow.  The  captain  remained  on  deck 
long  enough  to  ascertain  that  the  Ville  d'Angers  was 
making  ten  knots  an  hour,  with  the  ship  in  tow ;  and 
he  hoped  in  the  morning  to  do  even  better  than  this. 
Thus  it  turned  out  that  Gregory  and  Clinch  knew  noth- 
ing of  the  destination  of  the  steamer. 

Possibly  Gregory  was  as  much  astonished  as  he  pre- 
tended to  be,  when  Raymond  told  him  the  vessel  was 


224  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

bound  to  England.  He  had  certainly  been  ugly  ever 
since  he  came  on  board.  It  seemed  to  him  in  the  be- 
ginning, that  O;Hara  ignored  him  in  re-organizing  the 
watches,  and  especially  in  not  speaking  to  him  about  the 
quarter-watches.  But  then,  he  was  looking  for  a  cause 
of  offence  ;  and  those  who  look  for  it  are  sure  to  find 
it. 

"  Though  I  am  the  first  officer  of  the  steamer,  I  have 
not  been  consulted  about  any  thing,"  replied  Gregory, 
in  answer  to  Raymond's  remark. 

"  I  do  not  know  that  any  of  the  officers  have  been 
consulted,"  added  Raymond,  who  did  not  like  the  atti- 
tude of  Gregory. 

"  I  suppose  I  was  ignored  because  I  came  from  the 
Josephine.  The  Tritonia's  officers  seem  to  be  in  the 
ascendant  on  board  of  this  vessel,"  continued  Gregory, 
in  the  most  forbidding  of  tones. 

"  I  don't  think  it  can  make  any  difference  what  ves- 
sel the  officers  came  from." 

"  Tell  that  to  the  marines !  isn't  the  captain  hand 
and  glove  with  Speers,  the  second  officer  ?  Are  they 
not  together  all  the  time  they  can  be  ? "  demanded  the 
irate  watch  officer. 

"  I  think  Speers  has  been  consulted  no  more  than 
you  or  I  have,"  replied  Raymond,  moving  away  from 
the  pilot-house ;  for  he  saw  that  it  was  of  no  use  to 
argue  the  point  with  one  so  unreasonable  as  Gregory 
showed  himself  to  be. 

"  Hold  on  a  minute,  Mr.  Raymond,"  interposed  the 
discontented  officer.  "  Do  you  think  it  is  right  for  the 
captain  to  disregard  his  orders,  and  take  the  steamer 
to  England  ? " 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  225 

"  The  captain  can  answer  that  question  for  himself, 
and  I  cannot  answer  it  for  him,"  replied  Raymond. 
"  All  I  have  to  do  is  to  obey  my  orders." 

"  Suppose  he  should  take  it  into  his  head  to  run  for 
the  South  Sea  Islands  on  a  pleasure-excursion :  should 
you  feel  it  to  be  your  duty  to  obey  orders  without  a 
protest,  and  go  with  him  ?  "  demanded  Gregory. 

"  The  captain  is  not  doing  any  thing  of  that  sort, 
and  there  is  no  need  of  answering  conundrums,"  re- 
plied Raymond  warmly.  "  This  is  a  case  of  life  and 
death  with  thirty-two  people  on  board  of  the  wreck; 
and  it  .has  been  decided  by  the  captain,  after  consulta- 
tion with  all  the  adults  on  board,  to  tow  the  hulk  to 
Portsmouth." 

"  But  it  is  a  thousand  miles  to  England." 

"  It  is  more  than  that ;  but,  if  it  were  three  thousand', 
I  should  obey  orders  all  the  same." 

"I  don't  think  we  are  justified  in  obeying  orders 
under  such  circumstances,"  continued  Gregory.  "  I 
think  Mr.  Fluxion  will  blame  you  and  me  if  we  assist 
in  sailing  the  steamer  off  on  this  long  voyage,  when  the 
orders  were  to  take  the  vessel  to  the  Madeiras." 

"  Of  course  you  have  a  right  to  your  own  opinion, 
Mr.  Gregory,"  added  Raymond  coldly.  "  Good-morn- 
ing." 

The  fourth  officer  left  the  pilot-house,  where  the  con- 
versation had  been  carried  on  in  the  presence  of  the 
quartermaster  and  the  seaman  who  were  steering  the 
steamer.  He  was  sorry  he  had  listened  so  long  to 
the  malecontent ;  and,  as  he  walked  aft,  he  debated  with 
himself  whether  or  not  he  ought  to  wake  the  captain, 
and  inform  him  of  the  mutinous  sentiments  uttered  by 


226  ISLES    OF    THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

the  first  officer.  But  Gregory  had  taken  the  trumpet, 
and  had  not  yet  declined  to  obey  the  orders  of  the 
captain  as  transmitted  to  him  by  his  predecessor  in 
charge  ;  and  he  concluded  to  say  nothing  that  might 
place  him  in  the  position  of  a  tale-bearer.  He  turned 
in  ;  but,  as  he  had  had  his  full  six  hours  of  sleep,  he 
lay  awake  thinking  of  what  Gregory  had  said  to 
him. 

Gregory  wanted  to  do  something ;  and,  by  diligent 
thinking,  he  had  fully  persuaded  himself  that  the  course 
taken  by  Capt.  O'Hara  was  all  wrong.  In  the  first 
place,  he  was  exposing  the  ship's  company  to  the  perils 
of  contagion ;  and,  in  the  second,  he  was  disregarding 
his  orders  to  take  the  steamer  to  Madeira  in  the  event 
that  she  should  part  company  with  the  schooners.  He 
concluded  that  these  were  the  orders,  though  he  had 
not  heard  the  senior  vice-principal  give  the  instructions 
to  the  commander  of  the  steamer. 

"  I  think  you  are  quite  right,  Mr.  Gregory,"  said  the 
quartermaster  at  the  wheel,  after  Raymond  had  gone. 
"  If  the  truth  were  known,  Capt.  Fairfield  is  of  the  same 
mind.  I  know  the  fellows  from  the  Josephine  don't 
like  the  idea  of  breathing  the  air  from  that  floating 
hospital  for  the  next  week  or  ten  days  ;  nor  of  going 
off  on  a'  cruise  two  or  three  weeks,  wherever  Mr. 
O'Hara  or  the  Tritonia  chooses  to  take  them." 

Gregory  listened  to  this  long  speech  without  saying  a 
word.  The  sentiments  were  his  own ;  but  they  were 
mutinous  in  their  nature,  and  he  ought  to  have  re- 
proved the  quartermaster  for  speaking  to  his  superior 
officer  in  such  terms  of  the  captain. 

"How   were  we   going   when   the   log  was   heaved 


YOUNG    AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  227 

last?"  asked  the  first  officer,  taking  no  notice  of  the 
speech  of  the  man  at  the  wheel. 

"  Ten  and  a  half,  sir,"  replied  Stokes. 

Gregory  went  aft,  calling  for  the  watch  on  the  fore- 
castle to  follow  him,  and  heaved  the  log.  To  his  as- 
tonishment, the  Ville  d' Angers  was  making  eleven 
knots.  The  firemen  were  evidently  doing  their  best. 
He  had  heard  Mr.  Frisbone  say  that  the  steamer  would 
make  fifteen  knots  under  favorable  circumstances,  and 
that  she  had  done  it  most  of  the  time  before  the  collis- 
ion. At  this  rate  she  would  be  in  Portsmouth  in  five 
days.  He  looked  at  the  hulk  astern,  and  saw  that  she 
carried  the  square  sail  she  had  rigged  on  the  jury-mast, 
and  the  wind  was  fresh  enough  to  help  her  along  a 
knot  or  two  an  hour. 

Gregory  examined  the  tow-line,  as  he  had  been  in- 
structed to  do,  and  found  it  all  right  so  far  as  he  was 
able  to  judge.  When  he  had  complied  so  far  with  the 
routine  of  the  vessel  and  with  his  orders,  he  went  for- 
ward to  the  engine-room.  Alexander  was  on  duty 
there ;  and  he  was  the  only  one  of  the  Tritonia's  ship's 
company  on  the  watch  in  charge  of  the  steamer.  Mr. 
Fluxion  and  Mr.  Pelham  had  agreed  that  officers  and 
seamen  from  each  vessel  should  be  in  the  same  watch, 
so  far  as  it  was  practicable ;  and  this  arrangement 
would  remove  any  possible  danger  of  quarrelling  and 
disagreement  among  the  students  from  the  different 
craft.  This  had  been  done  ;  but  the  rule  could  not  be 
applied  to  the  engineers,  for  both  of  them  belonged  to 
the  Tritonia.  But  the  "  greasers,"  one  from  each  quar- 
ter, belonged  to  the  regular  watch. 

"  Good-morning,  Mr.  Gregory,"  said  the  chief  engi- 


228  ISLES    OF    THE    SEA  j    OR, 

neer,  with  a  yawn,  as  the  first  officer  stepped  into  the 
engine-room. 

"Good-morning,  Mr.  Alexander,"  replied  Gregory 
coldly,  as  he  invariably  spoke  to  all  the  officers  of  the 
Tritonia.  "  You  have  on  a  big  head,  of  steam." 

"  The  firemen  have  done  very  well  since  I  came  on 
watch,"  answered  the  engineer,  with  another  yawn. 

He  had  not  been  careful  to  improve  all  his  opportu- 
nities for  sleep,  as  a  sailor  should,  and  as  the  students 
had  learned  to  do  when  on  regular  duty,  and  had  not 
turned  in  till  after  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening ;  and  he 
had  been  called  at  twelve.  In  the  force  of  engineers 
the  steamer  was  short-handed ;  and  the  watch  was 
changed  at  six  and  twelve,  night  and  day ;  and  this 
bill  had  been  adopted  at  the  request  of  the  engineers 
themselves,  so  that  they  could  find  no  fault  with  it. 

"  We  are  making  eleven  knots ;  and  that's  high 
speed  for  a  steamer  towing  a  six-hundred-ton  ship," 
added  Gregoryj  who  was  really  sorry  to  find  the  engine 
doing  so  well. 

"  So  much  the  sooner  this  voyage  will  be  over,"  an- 
swered Alexander ;  and  then  he  yawned  again,  for  he 
"had  not  slept  more  than  those  two  hours  out  of  the  last 
twenty-four. 

"  Why,  don't  you  like  it  ?  "  asked  Gregory,  not  a  lit- 
tle astonished  to  hear  a  Tritonian  express  even  a  hint 
of  being  dissatisfied. 

"  I  can't  say  I  do,"  replied  Alexander,  with  a  heavy 
gape  ;  "  at  least,  I  have  had  about  enough  of  it,  as  the 
thing  is  going  now.  A  fellow  can't  stand  it  without 
his  sleep.  I  have  to  keep  my  eye  on  that  gauge  all  the 
time  ;  and  it  is  with  the  utmost  difficulty  that  I  can 
keep  my  peepers  open." 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  2  29 

Alexander  gaped  again,  and  Gregory  seated  himself 
by  his  side. 

"  It  is  rather  rough  on  you  to  serve  these  six-hour 
watches,"  added  the  first  officer. 

"  I  shouldn't  have  minded  it  for  a  short  cruise  ;  but 
I  didn't  ship  as  an  engineer  for  a  trip  to  England  and 
back." 

"  I  suppose  Richards  likes  it,  don't  he  ? "  Gregory 
proceeded,  anxious  to  obtain  more  information  in  re- 
gard to  the  sentiments  of  the  engineers. 

"  He  is  more  discontented  than  I  am.  He  is  growl- 
ing all  the  time  ;  and  he  was  downright  mad  when  he 
learned  that  the  recitations  were  to  be  carried  on  to- 
morrow, just  as  they  are  in  all  the  vessels  of  the  squad- 
ron. I  shall  be  in  a  pretty  condition  to  study  my  les- 
sons, after  this  watch  is  finished.  I  shall  turn  in  as 
soon  as  I  get  my  breakfast,  and  sleep  till  noon,  when  I 
have  to  take  my  place  in  the  engine-room  again.  How 
am  I  to  keep  up  with  the  class,  and  run  this  machine 
twelve  hours  a  day  ? " 

"  You  can't  do  it,  of  course.  " 

"  No  more  can  Richards.  He  came  within  one  of 
slipping  out  of  the  cabin  on  the  first  of  the  month,  when 
Speers  came  in  from  the  steerage ;  and  he  wants  to 
make  his  election  sure  next  time." 

"  It  is  a  hard  case  for  both  of  you.  But  I  suppose 
you  volunteered  for  this  duty  ?  " 

"  Richards  and  I  were  the  only  fellows  who  knew 
any  thing  about  an  engine,  and  we  were  really  forced  to 
volunteer,"  yawned  Alexander.  "  I  wish  we  were  on 
our  way  to  Madeira,  instead  of  on  a  trip  to  England." 

"  What  is  the  matter  with  these  fellows  down  in  the 


230  ISLES    OF   THE    SEA  j    OR, 

fire-room  ? "  asked  Gregory,  whose  attention  had  been 
attracted  several  times  during  the  conversation,  by  the 
singing  and  laughing  of  the  men  at  the  fires. 

"  They  seem  to  be  very  jolly  to-night  for  some  rea- 
son or  other,"  replied  the  engineer,  gaping  fearfully 
as  his  drowsiness  gained  upon  him. 

The  first  officer  wondered  why  the  men  were  so  jolly 
at  that  early  hour  in  the  morning  ;  and  to  satisfy  him- 
self he  went  down  into  the  fire-room.  After  he  had 
taken  a  few  steps  upon  the  iron  stairs,  he  saw  one  of 
the  Frenchmen  strike  off  the  neck  of  a  bottle  with  a 
bar  of  iron.  He  poured  the  contents  of  the  bottle  into 
several  tin  cups,  and  passed  them  to  his  companions, 
retaining  one  for  himself.  The  liquid  was  very  red ;  and 
the  officer  had  no  doubt  it  was  claret  wine,  such  as  is 
usually  furnished  to  the  passengers  on  board  of  French 
steamers. 

The  men  drank  off  the  contents  of  the  tin  cups,  and 
then  began  to  sing  with  renewed  energy.  It  was  the 
quantity  of  wine  they  had  drank,  which  made  the  men 
so  jolly.  He  was  confident  that  it  had  not  been  fur- 
nished by  the  officers  or  the  stewards  ;  and  it  was  plain 
enough  that  the  foreigners  had  found  it  in  the  hojd  of 
the  vessel. 

Gregory  spoke  French  well  enough  to  do  his  part  in 
carrying  on  an  ordinary  conversation  in  that  language  ; 
and,  descending  into  the  fire-room,  he  asked  the  French- 
men where  they  had  obtained  the  wine.  The  men  had 
drank  too  much  to  be  disturbed  by  any  common  event ; 
and  they  all  laughed  heartily  at  the  question.  The 
three  Frenchmen  were  on  duty,  and  Pierre  spoke  for 
them. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  231 

"  You  are  not  the  captain  ? "  said  he,  looking  the  first 
officer  over  from  head  to  foot. 

"  No :  I  am  the  officer  of  the  deck,"  replied 
Gregory. 

"  Plenty  of  wine  in  this  vessel,"  said  Pierre,  laugh- 
ing again  as  though  he  was  the  happiest  mortal  in. 
existence. 

The  other  two  men  threw  open  the  furnace-doors, 
and  began  to  shovel  in  the  coal  at  a  furious  rate.  But 
the  officer  observed  that  they  kept  an  eye  on  the  draughts, 
and  used  all  the  precautions  against  fire  or  injury  to  the 
boilers,  doubtless  doing  so  from  the  sheer  force  of 
habit. 

"  Where  did  you  get  the  wine  ?  "  repeated  Gregory, 
as  the  fellow  did  not  answer  him. 

"  Very  good  wine  !  "  exclaimed  Pierre,  taking  another 
bottle  from  one  of  the  coal-bunkers,  and  breaking  off 
the  neck  as  he  had  done  before.  "  Try  some  of  it ; " 
and  he  handed  the  bottle  to  the  officer. 

The  first  officer  of  the  Ville  d' Angers,  though  he  had 
been  a  good  seaman  and  a  good  scholar  for  a  consider- 
able time,  was  not  one  of  the  "  chaplain's  lambs,"  as 
the  good  boys  were  called  by  the  bad  ones.  He  had 
no  conscientious  or  other  scruples  against  drinking  a 
glass  of  wine,  or  even  a  bottle,  as  he  had  done  when 
the  eyes  of  the  professors  were  not  upon  him. 

Gregory  took  the  bottle  ;  but  he  was  not  inclined  to 
drink  out  of  the  dirty  tin  cup  of  the  firemen,  or  to  cut 
his  lips  with  the  glass  of  the  broken  bottle.  The  fire- 
man saw  his  difficulty,  and  then  disappeared  for  a  mo- 
ment, returning  with  a  clean  tumbler,  which  he  had 
evidently  taken  from  the  mess-room  forward  of  the 


232  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

engine  on  deck.  He  handed  it  to  the  officer  with  the 
greatest  show  of  deference  and  politeness.  Gregory 
filled  the  glass,  and  drank  it  off,  though  it  was  a  heavy 
dram  for  a  young  man  of  his  years. 

"  Where  did  you  get  it  ?  "  asked  the  officer. 

Instead  of  answering  the  question,  Pierre  took  a  lan- 
tern which  hung  at  the  entrance  of  the  port  bunker,  and 
led  the  way  along  the  machinery  of  the  engine  to  a 
small  door  which  opened  into  the  after-hold.  On  each 
side  of  the  engine  was  a  store:room ;  and  Pierre  took 
a  key  from  his  pocket,  and  opened  one  of  them.  Greg- 
ory saw  that  it  was  the  wine-room  of  the  steamer. 
Upon  skids  on  the  floor  were  several  casks ;  and  above 
them  were  bins  filled  with  bottles  containing  "vin 
ordinaire,"  or  common  claret.  On  the  other  side  were 
more  bins,  filled  with  other  kinds  of  wine. 

"Plenty  of  wine,"  said  Pierre,  as  he  pointed  with 
entire  satisfaction  to  the  display  of  bottles.  "  This  is 
the  best ; "  and  he  took  one  from  the  bin  he  pointed  at. 

Gregory  read  the  label  on  the  bottle,  and  understood 
the  matter  well  enough  to  realize  that  it  was  a  kind  of 
Burgundy,  much  stronger  than  claret.  He  took  a 
couple  of  the  bottles  from  the  bin,  and  put  them  in  the 
pockets  of  his  pea-jacket. 

"  Give  me  that  key,  Pierre,"  said  Gregory. 

"  No !  no !  no  !  "  protested  the  Frenchman,  with  the 
greatest  earnestness. 

Certainly  Pierre  had  given  his  confidence  to  the 
officer  without  any  reserve ;  but  he  had  done  so  only 
after  he  had  partaken  of  the  wine  offered  him. 
Whether  Pierre  had  any  Arabian  notions  about  hospi- 
tality, and  believed  that  Gregory  could  not  betray  him 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  233 

after  drinking  out  of  the  same  bottle ;  or  whether  he 
thought  that  the  officer  could  not  misuse  his  secret 
after  he  had  shared  in  fhe  guilt  by  partaking  of  the 
stolen  fruit,  or  the  juice  of  it,  —  or  not,  —  cannot  be 
imagined ;  but  he  seemed  to  be  as  free  with  his  officer 
as  though  he  had  been  one  of  his  companions  in  the 
fire-room. 

But  Pierre  had  an  opinion  of  his  own  in  regard  to 
the  key ;  and  he  positively  refused  to  give  it  up.  Greg- 
ory began  to  feel  the  effects  of  the  strong  Burgundy  in 
his  head,  for  he  could  not  carry  off  a  whole  tumbler  of 
it  without  being  fearfully  shaken  in  his  upper  works. 
He  felt  the  need  of  fresh  air;  for  the  hold  was  hot 
from  the  furnaces.  He  tottered  back  by  the  way  he 
had  come,  followed  by  Pierre,  who  was  evidently 
assured  that  he  had  made  a  friend  of  the  first  officer 
of  the  steamer,  and  that  was  almost  as  good  as  securing 
an  alliance  with  the  captain.  The  Frenchman  assisted 
the  officer  of  the  deck  out  of  the  hold,  for  his  steps 
were  becoming  more  and  more  unsteady  as  the  fumes 
of  the  wine  rose  in  his  head. 

"What  is  the  row  down  in  the  fire-room?"  asked 
Alexander,  as  the  tipsy  officer  appeared  in  the  engine- 
room. 

"  Nothing  particular,"  replied  Gregory,  trying  to 
stiffen  the  tones  of  his  voice,  which  he  could  not  help 
realizing  were  very  shaky.  "The  Frenchmen  feel 
good,  and  that  makes  them  sing  and  talk  loud ;  but 
they  are  so  far  from  the  cabin  that  they  can't  be  heard, 
and  won't  disturb  any  one.  Do  you  know  whether 
there  is  any  wine  on  board  ? "  asked  Gregory. 

"  I  don't  think  there  is ;  but  I  wish  there  were  some, 


234  ISLES   OF  THE   SEA  j  OR, 

for  I  think  a  little  of  it  would  wake  me  up,"  replied 
Alexander. 

"  Wait  a  minute,  then,"  added  the  first  officer  as  he 
stepped  out  of  the  engine-room,  and  went  to  the  mess- 
room,  where  a  lunch  was  kept  on  the  table  for  the  ben- 
efit of  the  officers  and  seamen  of  the  watch.  Drawing 
the  cork  of  one  of  the  bottles,  and  taking  a  tumbler 
from  the  table,  he  hastened  back  to  the  engine-room  as 
fast  as  his  shaky  legs  would  permit,  and  poured  out  a 
glass  of  the  rich  Burgundy,  and  offered  it  to  the  chief 
engineer. 

"  What's  this  ? "  asked  Alexander,  taking  the  glass. 

"  You  said  you  wished  there  was  some  wine  on  board, 
and  that  a  little  of  it  would  wake  you  up,"  added  Greg- 
ory. "  Here  it  is ; "  and  he  spilled  a  part  of  it  on  the 
floor  as  the  steamer  gave  a  smart  roll. 

Alexander  took  the  glass,  though  he  had  some  serious 
doubts  about  drinking  it.  He  had  very  rarely  drank 
wine  ;  he  very  rarely  had  a  chance  to  drink  it ;  but  if  it 
would  wake  the  firemen,  as  the  noise  indicated  that  it 
did,  —  for  he  was  not  so  stupid  as  not  to  understand 
what  produced  the  unusual  hilarity  when  Gregory  came 
out  of  the  fire-room,  and  offered  him  a  glass  of  wine,  — 
it  would  have  the  same  effect  on  him.  Still  he  hesitated 
till  one  of  his  longest  gapes  had  nearly  choked  him ; 
and  then  he  drank  off  the  contents  of  the  glass. 

"  Now  we  are  in  for  it  together ! "  exclaimed  Greg- 
ory, when  the  engineer  had  tipped  off  the  red  draught. 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  that  ? "  demanded  Alexan- 
der, who  did  not  exactly  like  the  words,  or  the  chuckle 
that  accompanied  them. 

"  Give  us  your  hand,  Mr.  Alexander  !  we  are  friends 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  235 

now,  if  you  do  belong  to  the  Tritonia,"  said  the  male- 
content,  with  a  laugh,  for  the  liquor  was  beginning  to 
make  him  a  little  excitable. 

The  engineer  could  not  well  refuse  his  hand,  and  he 
gave  it  to  the  jolly  officer  of  the  deck.  Gregory  left 
the  engine-room,  and  went  to  the  mess-room.  It  was 
lighted,  and  he  found  a  hiding-place  for  the  two  bottles 
of  wine.  He  walked  about  the  deck  in  the  fresh  air  of 
the  night;  and  he  felt  happy  and  contented  for  the 
time,  and  not  at  all  inclined  to  foment  a  mutiny.  When 
four  bells  were  struck,  and  Clinch  reported  to  him  to 
relieve  the  deck,  he  let  him  into  the  secret,  and  gave 
him  a  tumbler  of  the  Burgundy.  He  took  another  at 
the  same  time,  and  turned  in  without  waiting  to  observe 
the  effect  upon  the  third  officer. 


236  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

STRIKING  WHILE  THE   IRON   K   HOT. 

BURGUNDY  is  bad  stuff  for  anybody,  and  espe- 
cially bad  for  boys.  Clinch  found  it  necessary 
to  keep  at  a  respectful  distance  from  the  seamen  of  his 
quarter-watch,  for  he  was  conscious  of  being  quite  un- 
steady on  his  feet ;  of  being  shaky  to  a  degree  that 
could  not  be  accounted  for  by  the  motion  of  the 
steamer.  But  he  knew  what  he  was  about  all  the  time  ; 
and,  when  he  attended  to  the  heaving  of  the  log,  he 
kept  up  a  constant  shouting  to  the  hands  at  the  line,  to 
stimulate  their  interest  in  their  work,  and  thus  prevent 
them  from  observing  him.  But  the  very  thickness  of 
his  tones  as  he  spoke  was  enough  to  betray  him,  if 
there  had  been  any  one  present  who  was  accustomed  to 
this  phase  of  intoxication. 

Alexander  had  found  it  more  difficult  to  keep  awake 
after  he  had  loaded  himself  with  Burgundy  than  it  was 
before.  If  he  kept  his  seat,  he  was  sure  to  fall  asleep ; 
and  several  times  he  "lost  himself."  He  knew  that 
the  captain  had  a  habit  of  prowling  about  the  deck  at 
all  hours  of  the  night,  as  well  as  of  the  day ;  and  for 
this  reason  he  felt  obliged  to  keep  on  his  feet  during 
the  remainder  of  his  watch,  for  it  would  have  ruined 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOiMEWARD    BOUND.  237. 

him  to  have  the  commander  find  him  asleep  at  his 
post.  He  did  not  consider  the  Burgundy  experiment  a 
success. 

Gregory  slept  like  a  log  in  his  state-room  till  eight 
o'clock,  when  all  hands  were  called.  He  got  out  of  his 
berth  with  an  aching  head,  and  was  as  cross  as  a 
spoiled  child.  He  went  to  breakfast ;  but  the  strong 
wine  had  destroyed  his  appetite  so  that  he  could  not 
taste  food,  and  he  only  drank  a  cup  of  coffee.  When 
the  meal  was  finished,  Capt.  Fairfield,  who  had  pre- 
pared the  forward  part  of  the  cabin  for  a  schoolroom, 
summoned  the  starboard  watch  to  attend  to  their  reci- 
tations. The  lessons  had  been  assigned  the  day  be- 
fore ;  and  the  port-watch,  composed  of  the  officers  and 
seamen  from  the  Tritonia,  had  faithfully  studied  them. 
Richards  had  done  so  while  on  duty  in  the  engine- 
room,  for  he  had  not  work  enough  to  keep  him  em- 
ployed half  of  the  time.  He  was  so  accustomed  to 
watching  the  gauge  and  the  motion  of  the  machinery, 
that  he  could  do  it  mechanically,  as  one  writes  with  a 
pen  without  thinking  that  he  is  writing.  The  chief 
engineer  had  also  studied  his  lessons  when  he  ought  to 
have  been  asleep. 

Gregory  heard  the  summons  to  the  recitation.  He 
had  not  studied  his  lessons,  and  the  call  was  an  un- 
pleasant one  to  him.  The  after-effect  of  the  heavy 
drams  of  Burgundy  he  had  taken  was  not  only  to 
make  him  cross,  like  a  wilful  child,  but  as  ugly  as  a 
hungry  wild  beast.  He  looked  at  the  Josephines  of  the 
starboard-watch,  as  they  passed  into  the  cabin ;  and 
they  appeared  to  him  like  lambs  going  to  the  slaughter. 
Not  that  they  all,  or  even  many  of  them,  objected  to 


238  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

the  recitations ;  but  he  judged  them  by  himself,  and 
interpreted  their  feelings  by  His  own.  He  was  utter- 
ly opposed  to  the  quarter-watch  arrangement,  which 
seemed  to  be  connected  with  the  study  scheme,  inas- 
much as  it  afforded  every  student  his  needed  recreation 
without  interfering  with  his  lessons  in  ordinary  weather. 
He  wanted  the  four  hours'  leisure  when  his  watch  was 
off  duty. 

Before  the  students  had  all  seated  themselves  at  the 
tables  arranged  for  study  purposes,  Clinch  came  to  the 
main  door  of  the  cabin,  at  which  Gregory  was  standing. 
They  had  been  cronies  since  they  came  into  the  Joseph- 
ine, and  each  understood  the  other  perfectly.  Like 
many  others,  they  had  both  been  sent  to  the  academy 
squadron  after  being  expelled  from  other  literary  insti- 
tutions. They  would  have  passed  for  bad  boys  before  ; 
but  the  novel  discipline  of  the  nautical  school  had  at 
least  produced  a  temporary  reform.  They  had  not 
been  made  over  in  their  minds  and  hearts,  as  many 
had ;  but  they  had  been  transformed  into  obedient 
sailors  and  diligent  scholars.  This  was  not  enough ; 
but  it  was  better  than  nothing.  Gregory  was  fourth 
lieutenant,  and  Clinch  third  master,  of  the  Josephine ; 
and  no  doubt  they  had  fairly  won  these  positions  by 
their  attention  and  zeal. 

"Bob  Clinch,"  called  Gregory,  as  the  third  officer 
was  passing  into  the  cabin. 

"  What  do  you  want,  Dave  ?  "  demanded  Clinch. 

"  I  want  to  see  you." 

"What  for?" 

"  Come  out  here,  and  I  will  tell  you." 

Gregory  led  the  way  to  the  port  side  of  the  deck, 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  239 

and  hauled  his  friend  into  a  corner  where  he  could 
speak  to  him  without  interruption.  But  suddenly  he 
seemed  to  change  his  mind,  and  conducted  him  to 
the  mess-room,  which  was  not  occupied  at  this  time. 
Taking  from  its  hiding-place  in  the  bottom  of  a  locker 
one  of  the  bottles  of  Burgundy,  he  filled  a  couple  of 
glasses  from  it ;  and  the  cronies  tossed  them  off  quite 
as  a  matter  of  course,  as  though  it  were  a  part  of  the 
regular  routine  of  the  vessel.  Neither  of  them  spoke  a 
word,  for  each  understood  the  other  without  any 
speeches. 

"  I  object  to  the  present  order  of  things  on  board," 
said  Gregory,  when  he  had  restored  the  bottle  to  its 
hiding-place,  and  rinsed  the  glasses  so  that  no  telltale 
odor  should  betray  him.  "  I  am  not  going  in  to  the 
recitations." 

"  Then  there  will  be  a  row,"  added  Clinch  lightly,  as 
though  it  were  of  no  particular  consequence  if  there 
should  be  a  tempest  on  board. 

"  I  don't  care  if  there  is :  in  fact,  I  should  rather 
like  a  little  excitement,"  added  Gregory.  "  I  don't 
feel  at  home  on  board  of  this  craft.  I  have  been 
snubbed  half  a  dozen  times  by  O'Hara  since  I  came 
into  the  steamer." 

"  Well,  what  are  you  going  to  do  about  it  ?  " 

"  I  am  not  going  into  the  cabin  to  the  recitations,  in 
the  first  place." 

"  But  you  will  have  to  fight  that  out  with  Capt.  Fair- 
field,  and  not  with  O'Hara,"  suggested  Clinch.  "  He 
is  the  schoolmaster  of  the  ship." 

"  I  don't  care  whom  I  fight  it  out  with.  I  feel  that  I 
have  been  a  good  boy  about  as  long  as  it  will  pay.  It 


240  ISLES    OF   THE    SEA  ;    OR, 

looks  to  me  just  as  though  we  had  come  to  the  end  of 
our  service  in  the  Josephine." 

"  But  we  shall  return  to  her." 

"  I  have  my  doubts  about  that.  When  we  get  to 
England,  if  we  go  there,  this  vessel  will  be  seized,  at- 
tached, taken  possession  of,  or  something  or  other  of 
that  sort,  and  we  shall  all  be  afloat  at  loose  ends;  and 
how  shall  we  get  back  to  the  squadron  among  the  Isles 
of  the  Sea  ?  The  Prince  is  not  going  to  wait  for  us  ; 
and  we  have  lost  the  Madeiras,  which  I  wanted  to  see 
more  than  all  the  rest  of  the  islands." 

"  I  heard  our  vice-principal  say  that  passengers  are 
entitled  to  salvage  if  they  save  a  vessel  after  she  has 
been  abandoned,  or  if  they  help  take  her  into  port 
after  she  has  been  partially  disabled  ;  and  I  suppose 
Mr.  Frisbone  will  attend  to  the  business,  so  far  as  the 
steamer  is  concerned." 

"  No  matter  for  that :  if  we  get  to  England,  we  shall 
have  no  vessel  to  chase  the  squadron  in  ;  and  I  don't 
believe  we  shall  ever  find  it.  I  think  the  cruise  of  the 
fleet  is  ended,  as  I  said." 

"  What  is  the  use  of  beating  about  the  bush  all  day, 
Dave  ?  if  you  have  any  thing  to  say,  why  don't  you  say 
it.  What  do  you  mean  to  do?"  demanded  Clinch,  a 
little  impatiently. 

"  Are  you  going  in  to  the  recitations,  Bob  ?  "  asked 
Gregory,  as  though  this  would  settle  the  whole  matter. 

"  No,  not  if  you  don't :  I  shall  follow  your  lead." 

"  That's  all  I  want  to  know,"  replied  Gregory,  open- 
ing the  door  of  the  mess-room,  and  passing  out  on  the 
main  deck. 

"  But  that  isn't  all  I  want  to  know,"  added  Clinch, 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  241 

following  him.     "  If  there  is  going  to  be  a  row,  I  want 
to  know  my  way  into  it,  and  my  way  out  of  it." 

"  I  don't  know  that  there  will  be  any  row,"  answered 
Gregory. 

"  If  you  refuse  to  attend  recitations  there  will  be, 
without  any  doubt." 

"  Capt.  Fairfield  wishes  to  see  Mr.  Gregory  and  Mr. 
Clinch  in  the  cabin,"  said  one  of  the  quartermasters 
of  the  starboard  watch,  touching  his  cap  to  the  con- 
spirators at  this  moment. 

"  Tell  Mr.  Fairfield,  that,  with  entire  respect  for  him, 
we  have  decided  not  to  attend  recitations  to-day,"  re- 
plied Gregory  promptly. 

Stokes  was  the  quartermaster  who  had  delivered  the 
message ;  and  he  started  back  with  astonishment  at 
the  reply  of  the  first  officer. 

"  Shall  I  say  that  to  him  ? "  he  asked,  thinking  that 
perhaps  Gregory  was  joking. 

"  Say  that  to  him,"  added  Gregory  decidedly. 

By  this  time  the  fumes  of  the  wine  were  well  up  into 
his  head,  and  he  had  a  courage  not  his  own ;  and  Clinch 
was  affected  in  the  same  way. 

"  Very  well,  Mr.  Gregory,"  replied  Stokes ;  but  he 
did  not  seem  inclined  to  deliver  the  message. 

"  Why  don't  you  go  back  to  the  cabin  with  the  an- 
swer I  gave  you  ? "  demanded  the  first  officer ;  but  his 
manner  was  strange  to  the  quartermaster,  — rather  silly 
and  simpering. 

"  If  the  officers  of  the  ship  do  not  attend  recitations, 
I  don't  know  why  the  seamen  should,"  added  Stokes, 
encouraged  to  make  the  remark  by  the  light  tone  of 
his  superior. 


242  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

"  They  can  do  as  they  please,"  answered  Gregory, 
with  a  snuff  and  a  chuckle.  "  But  go  and  deliver  the 
message  to  the  instructor." 

"I  should  like  to  ask  if  the  rest  of  the  starboard 
watch  may  decide  not  to  attend  recitations/'  continued 
Stokes,  who  was  very  anxious  to  learn  something  more 
in  regard  to  the  position  of  the  officers  before  him. 

"  Come  into  the  mess-room,  Stokes,"  said  Gregory, 
leading  the  way.  "  The  rest  of  the  watch  can  do  just 
as  they  please." 

The  young  tippler  —  he  was  nineteen  —  took  the 
bottle  from  the  locker,  and,  knowing  the  quartermaster 
very  well,  he  gave  him  a  glass  of  the  wine.  Possibly 
he  thought  the  dose  would  stimulate  his  ideas,  and  en- 
able him  to  reach  the  conclusion  to  which  his  superiors 
had  arrived.  Stokes  was  willing  enough  to  imbibe,  and 
he  drank  off  the  contents  of  the  glass. 

"I  should  like  to  know  what's  up,"  said  the  messen- 
ger from  the  cabin. 

"  In  a  word,  then,  we  don't  like  the  way  things  are 
managed  on  board.  The  captain  h'as  disregarded  his 
instructions  ;  and  that  absolves  us  all  from  obeying  his 
orders,"  replied  Gregory,  as  he  drank  another  dram. 

"  Is  that  the  idea  ?  "  asked  Stokes. 

"  That's  just  it.  The  captain  has  divided  us  into 
quarter-watches,  and  it  is  by  his  royal  mandate  that  we 
are  to  study  our  lessons  and  recite  them." 

"  The  captain's  ?  If  that  is  so,  how  does  Capt.  Fair- 
field  happen  to  be  on  board?"  inquired  Stokes,  who 
could  not  help  seeing  the  flaw  in  the  first  officer's 
argument. 

"  I  suppose  he  was  sent  on  board  to  look  after  us  a 
little." 


YOUNG   AMERICA   HOMEWARD   BOUND.  243 

"  But  all  hands  were  required  to  take  their  books  and 
exercise-papers  with  them." 

"That  was  so  that  any  might  study  who  were  inclined. 
I  am  not  inclined." 

"  No  more  am  I,"  added  Stokes,  laughing,  as  the 
Burgundy  began  to  operate  in  his  upper  story. 

"  As  a  matter  of  duty,  I  don't  know  as  we  ought  to 
let  this  thing  go  any  farther ;  for,  as  the  case  stands 
now,  O'Hara  is  actually  running  away  with  the  vessel," 
continued  Gregory,  whose  speech  was  beginning  to  be 
a  little  thick.  "  When  a  lot  of  fellows  ran  away  with 
the  Tritonia,  and  were  going  on  an  independent  cruise 
in  her,  the  ones  that  took  possession  of  her  and  brought 
her  back  were  treated  like  lords  by  the  faculty,  and 
praised  up  to  the  skies  for  what  they  had  done." 

"  Come  in,  Lawring ! "  called  Clinch,  as  he  saw  the 
other  quartermaster  of  the  starboard  watch  at  the  door 
of  the  mess-room. 

"  Capt.  Fairfield  sent  me  to  see  what  had  become  of 
Stokes,"  said  Lawring,  as  he  came  into  the  mess- 
room. 

"  Well,  you  see,  don't  you  ? "  leered  Gregory,  whose 
head  was  buzzing  as  though  it  contained  a  circular  saw 
in  motion.  "  Here,  Lawring,  you  are  a  good  fellow." 

The  first  officer  took  the  second  bottle  of  Burgundy 
from  the  locker  (for  the  first  was  empty  by  this  time), 
and  filled  the  glass  on  the  table.  Clinch  looked  out 
of  the  window  on  the  deck  to  warn  his  companion  of  the 
approach  of  any  one  who  might  interfere  with  their 
pastime.  But  no  one  disturbed  them. 

"  Drink  this,  Lawring,"  said  Gregory,  when  he  had 
filled  the  glass. 


244  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

"What  is  it?  "inquired  the  quartermaster,  as  he 
looked  from  one  to  another  in  the  apartment,  wonder- 
ing what  could  be  going  on. 

"  It's  the  best  wine  on  board  of  the  Ville  d' Angers, 
and  as  good  as  you  can  find  anywhere,"  replied  Greg- 
ory in  maudlin  tones.  "  Take  it,  Lawring  :  it  will  do 
you  good." 

"  Thank  you,  Mr.  Gregory :  I  never  drink  wine,"  an- 
swered the  quartermaster,  as  he  looked  over  the  three 
former  occupants  of  the  mess-room  ;  and  he  was  fully 
satisfied  that  aH  of  them  had  been  partaking  of  the 
wine. 

If  the  first  officer  of  the  steamer  was  not  tipsy,  he 
had  never  seen  a  person  in  that  condition. 

"  If  you  never  drank  any  wine,  it  is  time  for  you  to 
begin,"  chuckled  Gregory. 

"  Thank  you,  Mr.  Gregory  :  I  don't  wish  for  any," 
returned  Lawring  decidedly. 

"  I  tell  you  to  drink  it ;  and  I  am  the  first  officer  of 
this  craft." 

"  Excuse  me :  I  signed  the  pledge  before  I  left  home  ; 
and  I  intend  never  to  drink  any  thing  as  long  as  I  live." 

"  But  I  am  your  superior  officer  !  "  persisted  Gregory, 
in  broken  speech.  "  You  must  obey  me  !  " 

The  tippler  began  to  be  angry,  and  stormed  at  the 
quartermaster  in  his  incoherent  speech. 

"  I  will  not  drink  wine  in  obedience  to  any  body's 
orders,"  replied  Lawring  firmly. 

"  You  won't !  then  I'll  make  you  drink  it !  " 

"Dry  up,  Dave  !  "  interposed  Clinch. 

"  What  reply  shall  I  take  to  Capt.  Fairfield,  Stokes  ? " 
asked  Lawring,  as  he  opened  the  door  behind  him. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  245 

"Tell  Capt.  Fairfielcl,  that,  with  entire  respect  for  him, 
we  have  decided  not  to  attend  any  recitations,"  an- 
swered Stokes,  sending  the  reply  which  Gregory  had 
given  him. 

"  Don't  let  him  go  till  I  bust  in  his  head !  "  exclaimed 
the  first  officer,  staggering  towards  the  door  to  intercept 
the  departing  quartermaster. 

"  No,  no ;  don't  get  up  a  fight  here,"  said  Clinch, 
taking  his  crony  by  the  collar,  and  detaining  him, 

Lawring  did  not  wait  for  any  thing  more  ;  but  has- 
tened back  to  the  cabin,  where  the  rest  of  the  watch 
were  engaged  in  their  recitations. 

"  Stokes  says,  that,  with  entire  respect  for  you,  Capt. 
Fairfield,  he  has  decided  not  to  attend  any  recitations," 
said  Lawring,  reporting  to  the  instructor. 

"  Indeed !  and  did  you  see  Gregory  and  Clinch  ? " 
inquired  the  astonished  teacher. 

"  They  were  all  in  the  mess-room  forward,  sir." 

"  What  does  this  mean  ?  did  they  assign  any  reason 
for  their  conduct  ?  " 

"No,  sir;  but  I  think  that  all  three  of  them  have 
been  drinking  wine ;  and  Mr.  Gregory  is  intoxicated," 
added  the  quartermaster. 

"Intoxicated!"  exclaimed  Capt.  Fairfield.  "I 
think  you  must  be  mistaken,  Lawring." 

"  No,  sir,  I  am  not.  They  had  a  bottle  of  red  wine, 
and  Mr.  Gregory  asked  me  to  drink  a  glass  of  it." 

Capt.  Fairfield  was  bewildered  at  this  intelligence. 
Three  of  the  students  who  ought  to  be  at  their  studies 
were  drinking  wine  in  the  mess-room.  Certainly  this 
was  all  wrong.  The  students  were  not  allowed  to 
drink  wine,  to  say  nothing  of  refusing  to  attend  to  the 


246  ISLES    OF    THE    SEA  ;    OR, 

lessons.  But  the  instructor  was  a  prudent  man ;  and 
he  paused  to  consider  his  own  powers  in  the  premises. 
He  had  been  sent  on  board  to  instruct  the  ship's  com- 
pany; and  he  concluded  that  his  authority  was  the 
same  as  that  of  any  other  professor  in  the  absence  of 
the  principal  or  a  vice-principal.  He  had  the  entire 
control  of  the  students  during  study  hours,  unless  they 
were  ordered  to  do  ship's  duty  by  the  captain.  He 
could  not  interfere  with  the  navigation  of  the  vessel ; 
but  he  could  compel  the  attendance  of  the  pupils  at 
the  proper  hours,  in  the  cabin. 

Leaving  the  cabin,  he  went  on  the  poop-deck,  where 
O'Hara  was,  and  stated  the  case  to  him.  The  young 
captain  was  very  much  disconcerted  by  the  intelligence 
that  some  of  the  students  were  insubordinate,  but 
especially  so  that  the  first  and  third  officers  were  in 
a  state  of  intoxication  and  rebellion.  It  was  clear 
enough  that  the  tipplers  had  found  a  way  to  get  bito 
the  wine-room  in  the  hold.  Mr.  Frisbone  had  itaKen 
the  key  to  this  room ;  and  it  was  a  mystery  how  the 
students  had  got  into  it. 

O'Hara  told  Capt.  Fairfield  that  he  had  full  powers 
to  compel  the  attendance  of  the  members  of  the  star- 
board-watch in  the  cabin,  and  advised  him  to  call  upon 
the  boatswain  and  carpenter  if  he  needed  any  assist- 
ance. While  the  instructor  went  to  attend  to  this 
duty,  O'Hara  called  for  the  stewards,  and  visited  the 
hold  with  them.  They  knew  nothing  about  the  wine 
.  or  the  wine-room.  The  door  was  locked,  and  all  ap- 
*  peared  to  be  right  about  it.  But,  while  they  were  inves- 
tigating the  matter,  the  captain  saw  Alfonzo  come  out 
of  the  fire-room,  and  creep  under  the  engine  to  the  door 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  247 

leading  into  the  after-hold.  He  went  below  again,  and 
the  fireman  unlocked  the  door  of  the  wine-room.  When 
he  had  gone  in,  the  captain  crept  up  to  the  door,  and 
took  out  the  key.  Calling  the  two  stewards,  they  drove 
Alonzo  out,  and  locked  the  door. 

"  Keep  this  key,"  said  O'Hara  to  the  man  who  acted 
as  chief  steward,  "and  search  the  ship  all  over.  If 
you  find  any  wine  or  liquors,  lock  them  up." 

It  so  happened  that  the  firemen  had  exhausted  the 
supply  they  had  in  the  fire-room,  and  had  sent  Alfonso 
for  another  stock.  He  had  found  the  key  in  the  fire- 
room.  The  stewards  found  that  which  Gregory  had 
concealed  in  the  locker,  and  it  was  secured.  No  wine 
was  to  be  had  except  in  the  wine-room.  As  a  further 
precaution,  the  captain  ordered  the  carpenter  to  trans- 
fer two  heavy  bars  of  iron  from  another  door  to  this 
one.  ,As  each  bar  was  secured  by  a  large  lock,  it  was 
not  likely  the  room  would  be  broken  into. 

Capt.  Fairfield  went  to  the  mess-room  after  he  left 
the  captain.  The  students  there  were  respectful  to 
him  at  first ;  but,  when  he  spoke  of  enforcing  his  au- 
thority, Gregory  was  impudent ;  and  the  others,  whose 
heads  were  full  of  wine,  followed  his  example. 

But  the  instructor  was  a  rigid  disciplinarian ;  and, 
calling  in  Shakings,  they  dragged  the  first  and  third 
officers  and  the  quartermaster  into  the  cabin.  But  they 
were  all  too  much  intoxicated  to  study  or  recite ;  and 
Capt.  Fairfield  locked  them  into  a  couple  of  spare 
state-rooms. 

By  noon  they  had  all  slept  off  the  effects  of  the  wine. 
O'Hara  had  been  thinking  all  the  morning  about  the 
case  of  discipline  on  hand,  and  confidently  expected 


248  ISLES    OF   THE    SEA  j    OR, 

trouble  as  soon  as  the  time  came  to  change  the  watch. 
He  had  made  up  his  mind  what  to  do ;  but  his  action 
must  be  governed  by  the  circumstances.  Only  three  of 
the  students  from  the  Josephine  had  thus  far  been  in- 
subordinate ;  but  all  the  rest  might  join  them.  But  he 
apprehended  no  difficulty,  for  the  officers  and  seamen 
from  the  Tritonia  were  enough  to  handle  the  steamer. 

Gregory  had  been  let  out  of  the  state-room,  com- 
pletely sobered,  at  half-past  eleven,  so  that  he  could 
dine  with  his  watch  in  season  to  take  the  deck  at  noon. 
He  was  even  more  cross  and  ugly  than  he  had  been  in 
the  morning. 

"  All  the  starboard-watch  on  deck ! "  shouted  the 
acting  boatswain,  piping  the  call. 

Gregory  did  not  move  from  the  seat  he  had  taken  at 
the  cabin-door.  O'Hara  trembled  as  he  saw  that  the 
first  officer  was  intent  upon  making  trouble. 

"  The  deck  is  yours,  Mr.  Gregory,"  said  Raymond, 
tendering  to  him  the  trumpet,  in  the  usual  form. 

"  I  don't  want  it,"  growled  the  first  officer.  "  I  shall 
not  do  duty  any  more." 

Raymond  reported  the  answer  to  the  captain. 

"  Call  all  hands !  "  said  O'Hara  promptly. 

The  call  was  immediately  piped.  As  on  board  the 
vessels  of  the  squadron,  every  officer  and  seaman  had 
his  station,  and  was  required  to  repair  to  it  instantly, 
whether  the  call  came  by  day  or  night. 

Every  one  went  to  his  station  except  the  three  who 
had  refused  to  attend  the  recitations.  Possibly  the 
conspirators  could  have  induced  others  of  their  ship- 
mates in  the  Josephine  to  join  them ;  but  they  had  had 
no  time  to  work  the  case  up. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  249 

"  Here,  Winchell ! "  shouted  Gregory  to  one  of  his 
own  watch.  "  Don't  go  !  We  are  going  to  stand  out. 
O'Hara  is  running  away  with  the  steamer,  and  we  need 
not  obey  orders." 

"Mr.  Shakings,  you  will  take  charge  of  the  first 
officer,"  said  the  young  captain.  "  Lock  him  into  his 
state-room,  and  keep  him  there." 

Clinch  followed  the  lead  of  his  crony,  and  Mr.  Rim- 
mer  was  directed  to  serve  him  in  the  same  way.  Both 
of  them  were  disposed  to  show  fight;  but  the  stout 
boatswain  and  carpenter  made  quick  work  with  them. 
Stokes  concluded,  at  this  particular  moment,  not  to 
"  stand  out,"  and  went  to  his  station  at  the  wheel. 

No  doubt  Gregory  was  astonished  to  find  himself 
and  his  conspiracy  so  easily  overcome.  He  was  a 
prisoner  by  himself,  and  likely  to  remain  so  for  a  con- 
siderable time. 

As  soon  as  the  mutineers  were  disposed  of,  O'Hara 
called  the  ship's  company  together.  He  did  not  allude 
to  the  event  which  had  just  transpired,  except  to  state  the 
fact  that  there  were  two  vacancies  in  the  officers'  cabin  ; 
and  it  was  necessary  that  they  should  be  immediately 
filled,  for  two  quarter-watches  were  without  officers. 
After  consulting  with  Speers  and  Raymond,  both  of 
whom  insisted  that  the  vacant  places  should  be  filled 
without  promoting  either  of  them,  the  captain  appointed 
Lawring  first  officer  in  place  of  Gregory,  and  Taylor  in 
place  of  Clinch ;  both  of  them  from  the  Josephine. 

The  firemen  made  a  new  demand  for  wine ;  but  they 
obtained  none,  and  they  did  not  deem  it  prudent  to 
"  strike  "  again.  In  five  clays  more  the  Ville  d' Angers 
arrived  at  Portsmouth,  with  the  Castle  William  in  tow. 


250  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

A  TRIP   TO   THE   CANARY   ISLANDS. 

ARRIVED  at  Portsmouth,  steamer  Ville  d' An- 
gers, having  in  tow  the  hulk  of  the  ship  Castle 
William,  dismasted  in  the  violent  gale  of  April  8," 
read  Mr.  Pelham,  from  a  newspaper  which  had  just 
been  received  by  the  African  steamer. 

He  had  hastened  on  board  of  the  Prince  with  the 
paper  as  soon  as  he  obtained  it.  The  news  was  cer- 
tainly very  important,  for  it  assured  the  principal  that 
the  missing  steamer  was  safe ;  and,  in  the  absence  of 
any  additional  intelligence,  it  was  presumed  that  her 
crew  were  all  well. 

Mr.  Fluxion  took  the  paper,  and  looked  it  over. 
He  was  especially  happy  because  his  confident  predic- 
tion that  the  Ville  d'Angers  was  all  right,  had  been 
fully  verified.  Mr.  Lowington  was  delighted  in  the 
safety  of  the  students  on  board  of  her.  The  Marian 
was  still  in  port ;  for  Judge  Rodwood  enjoyed  the 
climate  of  the  island  and  the  frequent  hospitality  of 
Don  Roderigue  so  much,  that  he  was  in  no  haste  to 
pursue  his  truant  ward. 

A  boat  was  immediately  sent  to  the  Marian  to  inform 
the  judge  that  his  ward  had  been  heard  from,  and  was 


YOUNG    AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  251 

believed  to  be  all  right.  He  was  glad  to  hear  it,  though 
he  seemed  to  be  in  no  hurry  to  leave  the  beautiful 
islands. 

"  Ah,  here  is  more  news  ! "  exclaimed  Mr.  Fluxion, 
who  was  still  looking  over  the  paper. 

"  About  the  steamer  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Lowington. 

"  Yes,  sir  :  here  is  a  tolerably  full  account  of  the 
voyage  of  the  Ville  d'Angers,  and  of  the  state  of  things 
on  board  of  the  Castle  William,"  continued  the  senior 
vice-principal,  as  he  seated  himself  under  the  awning 
on  the  quarter-deck  of  the  American  Prince. 

"  Let  us  hear  it,"  added  the  principal  eagerly. 

It  was  a  Southampton  paper ;  and  the  editor  reminded 
his  readers  of  the  visit  of  the  academy  squadron  to  the 
waters  of  the  Solent  and  Spithead,  and  the  race  around 
the  Isle  of  Wight,  about  six  years  before.  Then  fol- 
lowed an  account  of  the  picking-up  of  the  French 
steamer,  and  the  subsequent  falling-in  with  the  wreck 
of  the  Castle  William. 

"A  very  wealthy  American  gentleman,"  the  article 
continued,  "who  was  the  patron  of  the  academy 
squadron,  and  had  presented  to  its  distinguished  prin- 
cipal an  elegant  and  costly  steam-yacht  of  twelve  hun- 
dred tons  burden,  happened  to  be  a  passenger,  with 
his  family,  in  the  Ville  d'Angers  from  Havre  to  Malaga. 
When  the  condition  of  things  on  board  of  the  unfortu- 
nate Castle  William  was  ascertained,  this  noble-hearted 
gentleman,  with  his  wife  and  her  sister,  went  on  board 
of  the  hulk  where  pestilence  and  death  were  raging, 
and  tenderly  nursed  the  sick.  Mr.  Frisbone,  who  is 
jocosely  called  the  'American  Prince,'  —  and  he  is  one 
of  Nature's  most  royal  princes,  —  immediately  resorted 


252  ISLES    OF   THE    SEA  ;    OR, 

to  various  sanitary  measures,  and  with  his  own  hands 
whitewashed  the  space  between  decks  of  the  fever- 
stricken  vessel.  The  medicines  and  supplies  put  on 
board  of  the  ship  by  the  steamer  were  so  well  used 
that  the  sick  immediately  began  to  improve  ;  and  now 
all  are  doing  well.  They  have  all  been  removed  to 
the  quarantine  hospital,  where  the  small-pox  patients 
are  convalescent. 

"  Undoubtedly  the  careful  nursing  of  the  sick  by 
this  self-sacrificing  gentleman  and  the  ladies  saved 
the  lives  of  many,  if  not  all,  of  the  sick.  Certainly 
the  heroic  exertions  of  the  young  gentlemen  of  the 
school-ship  saved  the  vessel  and  her  freight  of  human 
beings ;  and  they  deserve  the  highest  praise,  Mr. 
Frisbone,  as  the  agent  of  the  principal  of  the  academy 
squadron,  has  libelled  the  Castle  William  for  salvage ; 
and  we  learn  that  negotiations  for  an  amicable  adjust- 
ment of  the  amount  are  in  progress.  The  owners  of 
the  steamer,  by  their  attorney,  have  already  put  in  their 
claim  for  the  Ville  d'Angers,  subject  to  reasonable  sal- 
vage. 

"  We  regret  to  add  that  there  has  been  some  trouble 
about  the  discipline  among  the  young  officers  of  the 
steamer.  The  first  and  third  officers  of  the  steamer, 
appointed  by  the  senior  vice-principal  in  charge  of 
one  of  the  vessels  of  the  academy  squadron,  were 
mutinous,  and  refused  to  do  duty,  attempting  to  incite 
others  of  the  crew  to  follow  their  example.  Possibly 
it  was  a  boyish  frolic;  but  the  young  captain  promptly 
caused  the  arrest  of  the  two  offenders,  and  has  kept 
them  prisoners  in  their  state-rooms  up  to  the  present 
time.  But  all  the  rest  of  the  ship's  company  yield  a 
willing  obedience  to  the  authority  of  the  captain. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  253 

"We  regard  Capt.  O'Hara,  for  such  is  his  name, 
as  a  rather  remarkable  young  gentleman.  Mr.  Fris- 
bone  assures  our  informant  that  he  is  a  thorough  sea- 
man, having  served  before  the  mast,  and  worked  his 
way  up  to  fourth  lieutenant  of  the  vessel  to  which  he  is 
attached.  He  was  born  in  Italy,  of  an  Irish  father 
formerly  in  the  English  consular  service,  and  an  Italian 
mother.  He  is  twenty  years  of  age,  and  speaks  Italian 
and  French  as  fluently  as  he  does  English.  Though 
there  is  an  instructor,  as  well  as  two  adult  forward  offi- 
cers, attached  to  the  ship,  she  is  under  the  entire  man- 
agement of  her  youthful  commander." 

This  was  the  principal  portion  of  the  article  which 
Mr.  Fluxion  read,  to  which  the  party  gave  the  most 
undivided  attention.  Of  course  it  was  gratifying  to  the 
professional  pride  of  the  principal  ;  and  both  of  the 
vice-principals  congratulated  themselves  upon  their 
own  discretion  in  appointing  O'Hara  to  the  command 
of  the  steamer,  though  it  was  not  foreseen  that  he 
would  make  such  an  extended  cruise  in  her. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  learn  that  there  has  been  trouble  on 
board  of  the  steamer,"  said  Mr.  Lowington,  when  the 
account  of  the  voyage  had  been  partly  digested. 

"  But  O'Hara  seems  to  have  made  an  end  of  the 
mutiny  at  once,"  replied  Mr.  Fluxion. 

"  He  is  a  very  decided  fellow,"  added  Mr.  Pelham. 
"  He  is  a  peaceable  and  well-disposed  young  man ;  but 
he  would  fight  his  way  through  any  thing  if  the  occasion 
required." 

"  This  paper  says  the  first  and  third  officers  were 
insubordinate,"  continued  the  principal  anxiously. 
"  Who  were  these  officers  ?  " 


254  ISLES    OF   THE    SEA  ;    OR, 

"  Gregory  was  the  first,  and  Clinch  was  the  third 
officer,"  replied  Mr.  Fluxion,  not  a  little  disconcerted, 
as  the  heavy  frown  on  his  brow  indicated.  "  I  am  sorry 
to  say  that  both  of  them  were  from  the  Josephine." 

"  They  used  to  be  bad  boys,"  said  Mr.  Lowington. 

"  For  the  last  year  there  have  been  no  better  officers 
or  students  in  the  vessel  than  Gregory  and  Clinch.  I 
don't  understand  it,"  replied  Mr.  Fluxion,  musing. 
"  Possibly  O'Hara  has  been  a  little  airy,  and  provoked 
them :  it  would  not  be  strange  if  any  young  fellow 
should  feel  good,  in  command  of  a  steamer  of  six  hun- 
dred tons." 

"  It  is  not  at  all  like  O'Hara  to  put  on  airs,"  inter- 
posed Mr.  Pelham. 

"  Even  if  he  did,  that  is  no  excuse  for  Gregory," 
added  Mr.  Fluxion. 

"  I  suppose  we  shall  not  understand  the  ma.tter  till 
we  see  the  students,  and  get  their  account  of  the 
affair,"  said  Mr.  Lowington. 

"  The  name  of  my  ward  is  not  mentioned  in  connec- 
tion with  this  business,"  remarked  the  judge. 

"  He  is  not  mentioned  as  a  mutineer ;  and  so  far  it 
is  perfectly  satisfactory,"  added  Dr.  Phelps. 

"  I  have  no  doubt  he  has  done  his  duty  faithfully," 
said  Mr.  Pelham. 

"  But  when  shall  we  have  these  young  fellows  back 
here  ?  "  asked  Judge  Rodwood. 

"  That  is  more  than  I  can  tell :  they  are  out  of  my 
reach,  and  I  cannot  instruct  them  what  to  do,"  replied 
the  principal.  "  But  Mr.  Frisbone  is  happily  with 
them ;  and  I  have  entire  confidence  in  his  good  judg- 
ment and  discretion." 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  255 

"  What  will  he  do  with  them  ?  He  has  no  authority 
over  them  ;  and  I  fancy,  if  they  once  get  ashore,  Capt. 
O'Hara  will  not  be  as  powerful  as  he  seems  to  have 
been  on  board.  What  will  they  do  ? " 

"I  have  no  doubt  Mr.  Frisbone  will  send  them  to 
these  islands  in  the  next  steamer,  and  come  himself, 
if  he  is  not  wholly  disgusted  with  his  experience  at 
sea." 

"  The  steamer  which  arrived  to-day  is  an  extra  one," 
said  Mr.  Pelham.  "  The  next  steamer  will  not  leave 
Southampton  till  the  24th  of  the  month,  and  will  arrive 
on  the  3oth. 

"And  this  is  only  the  2ist,"  added  the  judge. 
"  Shall  we  remain  here /line  or  ten  days  longer?" 

"  We  will  consider  that  matter,"  replied  Mr.  Lowing- 
ton,  rising  from  his  deck-chair. 

The  conference  was  ended,  and  all  returned  to  their 
own  vessels.  The  principal  went  forward  to  the  chart- 
room,  on  the  table  of  which  was  spread  out  the  chart 
of  the  North  Atlantic.  He  looked  it  over,  applied  the 
parallel  ruler  and  the  dividers.  In  less  than  half  an 
hour  orders  were  sent  to  the  Josephine  and  the  Tri- 
tonia  to  sail  at  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  for  Santa 
Cruz,  Tcneriffe,  one  of  the  Canary  Islands.  Notice 
of  this  intention  was  sent  to  Judge  Rodwood,  who 
immediately  hastened  on  board  of  the  Prince  to  ascer- 
tain more  definitely  the  intentions  of  the  principal. 

"  You  seem  to  have  come  to  a  sudden  conclusion," 
said  the  judge,  when  he  met  the  principal  on  the  deck 
of  the  Prince. 

"  My  absent  students  cannot  get  to  Funchal  under 
ten  days ;  and  I  cannot  afford  to  lose  so  much  time," 


256  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

replied  Mr.  Lowington.  "  It  is  only  a  day's  run  for 
the  steamer  to  the  Canaries  ;  and  we  can  spend  a  week 
at  Santa  Cruz,  or  in  cruising  about .  the  islands,  and 
return  in  season  to  take  them  on  board." 

"  Excellent !  "  exclaimed  the  judge.  "  I  shall  go 
with  you ;  and  this  excursion  will  afford  me  an  oppor- 
tunity to  reciprocate  the  hospitality  of  our  friend  Don 
Roderigue  ;  for  I  shall  invite  him  and  his  family  to 
take  passage  in  the  Marian." 

"  I  was  just  thinking  of  offering  them  state-rooms 
on  board  of  the  American  Prince;  but  I  have  no 
doubt  you  can  accommodate  them  more  elegantly  than 
I  can  ;  and  I  will  yield  the  privilege' to  you,  judge." 

"  Thank  you,  Mr.  Principal.". 

Judge  Rodwood  hastened  on  shore  to  extend  the 
invitation  to  Don  Roderigue ;  and  great  was  the 
delight  of  the  young  officers  when  they  saw  Dona 
Maria  go  on  board  of  the  Marian  just  before  the  hour 
appointed  for  the  sailing  of  the  squadron.  They 
lustily  cheered  the  party.  Don  Roderigue  raised  his 
hat,  and  bowed  his  thanks,  while  his  daughter  vigor- 
ously waved  her  handkerchief. 

Promptly  at  the  hour  set,  the  two  steamers  and  the 
two  schooners  got  under  way,  and  stood  out  of  the 
Bay  of  Funchal.  The  wind  was  quite  fresh  from  the 
west,  veering  a  little  to  the  north,  so  that  the  sailing- 
vessels  had  all  the  breeze  they  wanted.  It  had  been 
agreed  that  the  vessels  of  the  fleet  should  keep  to- 
gether, and  the  steamers  were  worked  at  about  two- 
thirds  of  their  ordinary  speed  to  accommodate  them. 
The  course  was  true  soijth  till  seven  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  when  the  Salvages,  a  group  of  islands  with 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  257 

very  rocky  and  dangerous  surroundings,  bore  to  the 
eastward ;  and  then  the  fleet  was  headed  to  the  east 
south-east.  The  islands  looked  barren  and  forbidding. 

"  Land,  sharp  on  the  weather-bow  ! "  shouted  the 
lookout  on  the  top-gallant  forecastle  of  the  Tritonia. 

"  Land ! "  exclaimed  Scott,  who  had  the  deck. 
"  There  is  no  land  within  a  hundred  miles  in  that 
direction.  The  lookout  has  a  gravel-stone  in  his  eye, 
and  thinks  it  is  an  island." 

"  Don't  be*  too  sure  of  that,  Scott,"  added  the  vice- 
principal,  leaping  on  the  rail  at  the  weather  side,  and 
looking  out  in  the  direction  indicated  by  the  lookout. 
"  I  see  it." 

The  lieutenant  sprang  into  the  weather  rigging,  and 
strained  his  eyes  to  the  utmost ;  but  he  could  see  noth- 
ing that  looked  like  land. 

"  I  think  I  am  getting  blind,  sir,"  added  Scott,  with 
a  laugh. 

"  Where  are  you  looking  ?  Up  here !  "  and  Mr. 
Pelham  pointed  a  considerable  distance  above  the 
horizon. 

"  Up  there  !  I  shouldn't  think  of  looking  up  there 
for  land,  unless  I  expected  to  find  it  in  the  moon," 
replied  Scott.  "The  Mountains  of  the  Moon  are  away 
over  on  the  other  side  of  Africa.  Are  you  looking  for 
them  ? " 

"  Don't  you  see  that  mountain  ? "  continued  Mr. 
Pelham,  pointing  again. 

"  I  see  it  now,"  answered  Scott,  as  he  made  out  a 
mazy  mass,  high  above  the  horizon.  "  What  in  the 
world  is  that  ?  " 

"  It  is  the  peak  of  Teneriffe." 


258  ISLES   OF  THE   SEA  j    OR, 

"  I  have  heard  enough  about  it  to  know  it  without 
an  introduction." 

"  It  must  be  nearly  a  hundred  miles  off." 

"  And  we  are  in  no  immediate  danger  of  getting 
aground  on  that  land." 

This  mountain  was  the  point  of  attraction  for  the 
day,  as  it  gradually  displayed  its  outline  more  clearly 
to  the  students.  At  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the 
squadron  rounded  Point  Anaga,  the  north-eastern  cape 
of  Teneriffe.  It  was  only  'nine  miles  farther  to  the 
chief  town  of  the  island  ;  and  by  five,  the  squadron 
was  .at  anchor,  and  all  the  formalities  of  the  govern- 
ment had  been  complied  with. 

At  eight  the  next  morning  all  hands  were  assembled 
in  the  grand  saloon  of  the  Prince,  to  hear  what  Mr. 
Mapps  had  to  say  about  the  Canary  Islands  in  general, 
and  Teneriffe  in  particular. 

"  The  Islas  Canartas,  as  the  Spaniards  have  it,  or 
the  Canaries,  or  Canary  Islands,  as  we  have  it,  lie 
between  thirteen  and  eighteen  degrees  of  west  longi- 
tude, and  between  twenty-seven  and  a  half  and  twenty- 
nine  and  a  half  degrees  of  north  latitude.  They  have 
an  aggregate  area  of  thirty-two  hundred  square  miles, 
and  a  population  of  two  hundred  and  twenty-seven 
thousand.  There  are  seven  principal  islands,  the  most 
important  of  which  are  Teneriffe,  Grand  Canary,  and 
Palma.  These  islands  are  all  very  mountainous,  vol- 
canic, and  rocky.  The  peak  of  Teneriffe,  which  we 
have  had  in  sight  since  yesterday  morning,  is  over 
twelve  thousand  feet  high. 

"The  two  most  western  islands  are  Hierro,  or  Ferro, 
and  Palma,  both  of  which  contain  peaks  from  five  to 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  259 

over  seven  thousand  feet  high.  The  meridian  which 
passes  through  Ferro  was  the  one  formerly  selected  as 
the  first,  from  which  longitude  was  measured  ;  and  for 
this  reason  it  has  been  adopted  as  the  dividing  line  be- 
tween the  Eastern  and  Western  Hemispheres.  Gomera 
is  fourteen  miles  south-west  of  Teneriffe.  The  water 
between  these  islands  is  very  deep ;  and  there  are  no 
dangers,  except  within  a  few  hundred  feet  of  the  shore. 
"Teneriffe  is  forty-five  miles  long,  and  twenty-two 
wide.  The  natives  call  the  summit  of  the  mountain 
which  stands  in  the  middle  of  the  island,  the  'Pico  de 
Teyde.'  We  saw  it  yesterday  morning  when  we  were 
nearly  a  hundred  miles  from  it ;  and  the  people  say  it 
can  be  seen  a  hundred  and  sixty  miles,  but  this  is 
vanity  on  their  part.  There  are  generally  more  or  less 
clouds  hanging  about  it.  Santa  Cruz,  or  '  Holy  Cross,' 
is  the  most  driving  city  of  all  the  islands  of  the  Atlantic. 
It  has  twenty  thousand  inhabitants.  The  mole  which 
you  see  is  of  recent  construction,  and  was  very  much 
needed  to  protect  the  shipping  from  the  strong  winds 
coming  from  north-east  to  south-east.  There  is  some 
British  naval  history  connected  with  this  city.  In  1657 
Admiral  Blake  destroyed  a  Spanish  fleet,  anchored  un- 
der the  batteries  of  the  town ;  and,  favored  by  a  sudden 
change  of  wind,  got  his  ships  out  of  the  harbor  with 
but  little  loss.  Nelson  lost  an  arm  here  in  1797,  and 
was  badly  beaten  in  his  battle  with  Fort  San  Miguel, 
which  is  still  in  existence.  British  flags  are  so  scarce 
with  the  Spaniards,  that  those  captured  in  this  engage- 
ment are  still  on  exhibition  in  the  principal  church  of 
the  city.  In  the  middle  of  the  summer  the  heat  in  the 
town  is  very  oppressive ;  and  the  wealthy  inhabitants 


260  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

flee  from  it  to  Laguna,  a  place  among  the  hills,  five 
miles  inland. 

"  On  the  north-west  side  of  Teneriffe  is  the  port  and 
city  of  Orotava,  which  is  probably  the  best  health  sta- 
tion in  the  world  for  invalids  troubled  with  throat  and 
lung  diseases.  It  is  located  in  an  amphitheatre  of  hills, 
two  or  three  miles  from  the  sea.  It  is  even  superior  to 
Madeira  in  the  uniformity  of  its  temperature.  The 
region  around  it  is  a  perfect  garden,  and  the  thermome- 
ter never  falls  below  fifty  degrees,  or  rises  more  than  a 
degree  or  two  above  eighty ;  and  these  extremes  are  of 
very  rare  occurrence.  The  average  temperature  is 
about  sixty-eight  degrees.  One  month  hardly  varies 
more  than  a  couple  of  degrees  from  the  one  next  to  it. 
Invalids  here  may  remain  out  of  doors  all  the  time, 
and  keep  their  windows  open  night  and  day.  But  it 
has  not  yet  become  to  any  great  extent  a  health  resort ; 
and  there  is  a  lack  of  accommodations  for  visitors  and 
temporary  residents. 

"  The  Grand  Canary  is  about  fifty  miles  to  the  south- 
east of  Teneriffe.  It  is  a  beautiful  island,  fertile  and 
populous ;  and  until  recently  the  seat  of  government, 
which  has  been  transferred  to  Teneriffe.  It  has  a  range 
of  mountains,  some  peaks  of  which  are  over  six  thou- 
sand feet  high.  Many  streams  flow  from  these  hills, 
which  in  the  rainy  season  become  raging  torrents. 
Las  Palmas,  or  the  Palms,  is  a  city  of  twenty  thousand 
inhabitants,  formerly  the  capital  of  the  islands;  but 
Santa  Cruz  de  Teneriffe,  as  it  is  called  to  distinguish 
it  from  another  Santa  Cruz  in  the  island  of  Palma,  has 
wrested  from  it  this  distinction  ;  and  there  is  a  strong 
rivalry  between  the  two  places.  It  is  still  the  Church 


VOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  261 

capital  of  the  Canaries.  It  is  overlooked  by  two 
high  mountains;  and  through  the  city  runs  the 
Guiniguada  River,  which  is  crossed  by  a  bridge  with 
immense  arches,  built  two  hundred  years  ago.  It  has 
some  fine  buildings,  and  several  educational  institutions. 
The  harbor  is  very  bad,  for  a  heavy  surf  rolls  in  most 
of  the  time  ;  but  it  has  a  sheltered  port  two  miles  to 
the  eastward  of  it.  - 

"  Fuerteventura  lies  east  of  Teneriffe,  and  is  fifty- 
two-miles  long.  It  has  the  appearance  of  being  a  barren 
island,  but  has  very  fertile  spots  in  it.  The  mountains 
are  not  so  high  as  in  Grand  Canary,  and  it  has  no  good 
harbors.  Lanzarote  lies  to  the  north-east,  and  is  thirty- 
one  miles  long.  Alegranza  is  a  small  island,  and  the 
most  northerly  of  the  group  ;  but  it  is  celebrated  as 
being  the  home  from  which  first  came  the  beautiful 
songster  we  call  the  canary-bird.  There  are  other 
small  islands.  Fuerteventura  is  only  about  sixty  miles 
from  the  coast  of  Africa. 

"These  islands  form  a  province  of  Spain,  and  are 
represented  in  the  Cortes  of  the  mother  country.  Mail- 
vessels  ply  between  the  different  islands,  and  there  is 
frequent  communication  by  steamer  with  Spain  and 
England.  The  people  are  Spaniards,  a  little  darker  of 
complexion  than  those  you  meet  in  Spain.  The  islands 
are  generally  very  fertile,  and  the  productions  of  both 
the  torrid  and  the  temperate  zone  are  raised  here.  The 
vine  has  been  an  important  item,  and  forty  thousand 
pipes  of  wine  were  the  average  manufacture  until  1853, 
when  the  grape  disease  destroyed  the  vines  ;  but,  like 
Madeira,  these  islands  are  rapidly -recovering  from  this 
disaster. 


262  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  j    OR, 

"  The  Canaries  are  believed  to  have  been  known  to 
the  ancients,  and  to  have  been  mentioned  by  Pliny 
the  Elder,  and  others,  as  the  Fortunate  Islands.  The 
ruins  of  some  stone  temples  in  Gomera  indicate  that 
they  were  known  to  the  Carthaginians.  Like  the 
Madeiras,  they  were  discovered  in  modern  days  by  a 
vessel  driven  off  its  course  by  heavy  weather,  in  1334. 
They  were  conquered  —  and  the  original  inhabitants 
fought  well  for  their  country  —  by  Jean  de  Bethencourt, 
a  Norman  baron  in  the  service  of  Spain,  in  1402.  They 
were  claimed  by  the  Portuguese,  and  the  natives  were 
troublesome  for  a  long  period;  but  Spain  eventually 
obtained  full  possession." 

The  professor  finished  his  remarks,  after  he  had  spo- 
ken for  some  time  about  the  manners  and  customs  of 
the  aborigines  of  the  islands,  as  indicated  by  the  im- 
plements and  ruins  found  in  them ;  and  then  the  stu- 
dents of  the  Tritonia  and  Josephine  returned  to  their 
vessels. 


YOUNG  AMERICA   HOMEWARD   BOUND.  263 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

WALKS   AND   TALKS   ABOUT  THE  CANARY   ISLANDS. 

AS  soon  as  the  lecture  of  Mr.  Mapps  was  ended,  all 
hands  were  allowed  to  go  on  shore.  The  elegant 
barge  of  the  Marian  had  gone  directly  from  the  Ameri- 
can Prince  to  the  landing-place,  having  on  board  Don 
Roderigue  and  his  daughter.  The  boat  was  pulled  by 
four  seamen  with  a  coxswain  in  the  stern,  all  attired  in 
holiday  uniforms  ;  and  the  barge  was  fitted  up  as  gayly 
as  a  festive  gondola  in  the  Grand  Canal  of  Venice,  for 
the  young  lady  and  her  father. 

"  Here  we  are ! "  exclaimed  Lieut  Scott,  as  he 
stepped  on  the  shore  with  Capt.  Wainwright.  "  I  had 
an  idea  we  should  hear  immense  flocks  of  canary-birds 
whistling  in  the  island,  and  be  in  canary-seed  up  to  our 
knees." 

"  Of  course  you  did  not  expect  to  see  canary-birds  in 
the  streets  of  a  city,  unless  you  saw  them  in  cages," 
added  the  captain.  "  Didn't  the  professor  just  tell  you 
these  birds  came  from  the  island  of  Alegranza  ?  " 

"  I  supposed  he  only  said  that  to  get  off  that  jaw- 
breaker. I  couldn't  tell  the  names  of  more  thanj  two 
of  these  islands  after  he  had  given  them  all." 

"  That  was  because  you  had  not  looked  them  up  be- 


264  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  j    OR, 

forehand.  Most  of  them  are  given  on  the  chart  of  the 
North  Atlantic." 

"  I  am  not  so  much  of  a  bookworm  as  some  of  the 
fellows." 

"  Here  comes  Dr.  Winstock,"  continued  Wainwright, 
as  the  captain's  barge  of  the  Prince  came  up  to  the 
landing. 

"  I  suppose  he  will  convoy  us  here,  as  he  has  before," 
added  Scott.  "  I  wonder  if  there  is  a  place  on  the  face 
of  the  earth  where  he  has  not  been." 

"  He  was  a  surgeon  in  the  navy  -for  a  good  many 
years ;  and  I  suppose  our  men-of-war  have  visited  all 
these  islands." 

"  Are  you  willing  to  take  us  in  tow,  doctor  ?  "  asked 
Scott,  as  the  surgeon,  attended  by  Capt.  Sheridan  and 
Lieut.  Murray,  approached  them. 

"  I  shall  be  very  happy  to  do  so  if  you  won't  labor 
too  hard  with  those  tremendous  jokes  of  yours,"  replied 
the  doctor,  laughing*. 

"  I  don't  think  I  labor  very  hard  at  them.  I  try  to 
be  as  solemn  as  an  owl ;  but  somehow  I  don't  get 
along  worth  a  cent,"  pleaded  Scott. 

"  I  should  be  sorry  to  have  you  break  your  back  by 
struggling  in  the  other  direction ;  and  I  have  not  the 
slightest  objection  to  your  jokes ;  only  labor  not  to  be 
funny." 

"  I  strive  not  to  do  so ;  and  I  have  rejected  some  of 
the  best  things  ever  thought  of,  because  I  found  I  had 
been  studying  upon  them." 

"  Doubtless  you  did  wisely.  But  we  will  commence 
our  walk,"  added  Dr.  Winstock,  as  he  led  the  way  from 
the  shore.  "  I  suppose  you  noticed  the  appearance  of 
the  island  from  the  ships  ?  " 


YOUNG    AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  265 

"  I  noticed  it  during  the  whole  of  my  watch  yester- 
day," replied  Scott;  "and  I  thought  it  looked  more 
like  a  busted  volcano  than  any  thing  I  ever  saw  be- 
fore." 

"  At  a  distance  the  mountain  near  the  centre  seems 
to  be  the  whole  island  ;  and  some  of  the  pictures  of  the 
peak  make  it  rise  directly  from  the  sea." 

"  The  whole  thing  looked  like  a  cinder  just  raked  out 
of  a  blacksmith's  forge.  It  don't  look  so  now." 

"  It  reminds  me  of  Greece,  where  the  hills  are  red 
and  barren.  There  appears  to  be  no  room  for  the  cul- 
tivation of  any  thing  on  this  island,  as  you  look  at  it 
from  the  sea ;  for  we  cannot  see  any  thing  of  its  beau- 
tiful valleys  and  plains  enclosed  by  mountains.  But  the 
appearance  is  not  very  far  from  the  fact,  for  not  more 
than  one-seventh  of  the  whole  surface  of  the  island  can 
be  cultivated;  but  the  arable  land  is  immensely  produc- 
tive." 

"  What  do  they  raise  here  ?  "  asked  Murray. 

"  Grapes,  which  they  manufacture  into  wine  and 
brandy ;  mulberry-trees,  with  which  they  feed  the  silk- 
worm, and  silk  is  one  of  the  exports  ;  potatoes,  wheat, 
Indian  corn,  oranges,  almonds ;  and  the  bees  produce 
honey  and  wax  for  shipment.  Cochineal  is  a  very  im- 
portant article  of  commerce." 

"  What  is  cochineal  ?"  asked  Scott.  "  I  heard  some 
one  say  it  was  made  of  bugs,  and  was  used  to  color 
candy  and  things." 

"  Some  one  told  you  correctly.  Cochineal  is  a  very 
valuable  dye-stuff.  It  consists  of  the  bodies  of  the  cocus 
cacti,  a  little  bug  about  the  size  of  a  grain  of  barley, 
but  more  in  the  shape  of  a  dried  pea.  It  belongs  to 


266  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

the  cocidce,  which  are  the  most  injurious  of  insects  about 
plants,  as  in  hot-houses.  The  orange-trees  of  the  Azores 
were  well-nigh  destroyed  by  them  in  1843  ;  and  Fayal, 
which  usually  exports  twelve  thousand  boxes  of  this 
fruit,  did  not  send  off  a  single  one  that  year." 

The  party  had  paused  on  the  street  near  the  beach 
to  hear  the  account ;  and  the  doctor  pointed  out  a  pack- 
age of  the  cochineal,  as  an  illustration  of  his  subject. 

"  The  cocus  cacti  is  so  called  because  it  feeds  on  a 
certain  kind  of  cactus,  which  has  to  be  cultivated  as 
the  food  of  the  insect.  The  production  of  cochineal 
was  carried  on  in  Mexico,  which  is  the  country  of  the 
cactus,  long  before  it  was  known  to  Cortes  or  any  other 
European.  Only  the  female  insect  is  used  in  the  manu- 
facture of  the  color.  The  male  has  wings,  but  the 
female  has  none." 

"That's  so  that  they  cannot  go  gadding  about," 
added  Scott. 

"  Very  likely ;  for  the  female  fastens  herself  to  a 
plant ;  and  this  branch  is  cut  off  with  the  creature 
upon  it.  The  laborer  forms  a  sort  of  soft  nest  on  the 
cochineal  plant ;  and,  when  the  mother  has  been  placed 
on  it,  she  lays  her  eggs.  The  young  when  hatched 
spread  themselves  over  the  plant,  feeding  upon  it,  till 
they  are  in  condition  for  use.  As  the  insect  produces 
several  crops  of  eggs  in  a  year,  the  young  are  "soon 
ready  to  lay  eggs  ;  but  they  must  be  killed  before  they 
are  in  condition  to  do  this,  or  it  would  injure  the  qual- 
ity of  the  cochineal.  The  branch  on  which  the  insects 
are  gathered  is  cut,  and  plunged  into  boiling  water,  in 
order  to  kill  them.  They  are  then  collected  and  dried  ; 
and  in  this  condition  it  takes  seventy  thousand  of  them 
to  make  a  pound  of  cochineal." 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  267 

"  Then  it  is  the  corpses  of  these  bugs  that  is  used  to 
put  the  red  streak  into  a  stick  of  peppermint  candy," 
added  Scott. 

"  Such  is  the  fact ;  and  it  may  cure  you  of  the  ten- 
dency to  eat  candy." 

"  I  think  not,  sir ;  for  I  can  stand  it  if  the  corpses 
can,"  answered  Scott. 

"  We  will  walk  up  into  the  town,"  continued  the  doc- 
tor, leading  the  way. 

"  The  houses  are  very  pretty,"  said  Sheridan,  as  he 
noticed  the  extreme  whiteness  of  all  the  buildings. 

"They  are  built  of  stone,  and  whitewashed." 

"Just  as  they  serve  erring  office-holders  at  home." 

"They  can't  make  them  white  as  these  houses 
are." 

"  Creation  !  there  is  a  woman  that  looks  like  a  squaw 
of  a  band  of  travelling  Indians!  —  stove-pipe  hat  and 
all !  "  exclaimed  Scott.  "  There  is  another  with  a  load 
on  her  head." 

"  The  women  are  the  principal  beasts  of  burden  in 
Teneriffe.  They  walk  twenty  miles  in  from  the  country, 
with  a  load  of  market-stuff  on  their  heads,"  added  the 
doctor. 

There  was  nothing  very  peculiar  about  the  costume 
of  the  woman,  except  the  hat,  and  a  sort  of  cloth  thrown 
over  the  head,  and  worn  under  the  hat,  which  dropped 
over  the  arms  and  shoulders,  like  a  shawl.  The  lower 
class  of  men  wore  short  trousers,  the  front  covered  with 
goat-skin,  a  short  jacket,  and  gaiters  over  their  shoes. 
Many  carried  a  staff  as  tall  as  the  arm-pits.  There 
were  a  few  beggars  about  the  streets,  as  there  are  in  all 
Spanish  towns;  and  their  costume  is  as  miscellaneous 


268  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  j    OR, 

as  those  in  Spain  wear,  except  that  the  cloak  is  not 
endurable  in  this  warm  climate. 

"  This  is  the  Plaza  de  la  Constitution"  said  the  doctor, 
as  they  entered  a  handsome  square,  bordered  by  a  broad 
street,  and  liberally  provided  with  street-lamps. 

"  I  knew  it  was  before  you  said  a  word  !  "  exclaimed 
Scott. 

"  How  did  you  know  it  ? "  . 

"  Because  the  Spaniards  all  live  on  the  constitution  ; 
and  they  have  a  square  in  every  town  that  is  big  enough 
to  hold  one,  with  that  name  to  it,"  replied  the  joker, 
laughing.  "  I  think  they  will  use  the  constitution  up 
one  of  these  days,  and  have  to  fall  back  on  the  by- 
laws." 

"  But  this  is  a  very  pretty  square ;  and  the  whole 
town  is  as  neat  as  any  thing  we  have  seen,"  added 
Sheridan.  "  These  buildings  are  very  fine ;  and  I  am 
sure  I  had  no  idea  of  finding  any  such  a  town  among 
the  Isles  of  the  Sea." 

"  The  Spaniards  here  think  a  great  deal  of  their  city ; 
and  they  have  been  liberal  in  the  matter  of  public  im- 
provements," replied  the  surgeon.  "This  piece  of 
sculpture,  which  looks  something  like  a  monument 
when  seen  at  a  distance,"  he  continued,  pointing  to  the 
object  at  one  end  of  the  enclosure  of  the  square,  "is  a 
statue  of  the  Virgin  of  Candelaria,  representing  her 
appearance  to  the  Guanches,  as  the  original  inhabitants 
were  called,  and  thus  converting  them  to  Christianity." 

The  colossal  statue  is  on  the  summit  of  the  monu- 
ment, which  has  four  other  figures  at  the  base.  At  the 
other  end  of  the  plaza  is  a  very  handsome  marble 
cross,  which  symbolizes  the  sanctity  of  the  city  name. 


YOUNG  AMERICA   HOMEWARD   BOUND.  269 

"  This  is  the  house  in  which  was  born  the  Marshal 
O'Donnel,  Duke  of  Tetuan,"  said  the  doctor,  as  he 
pointed  to  the  building,  a  small  and  modest  structure. 

"  He  is  a  brave  general  in  the  French  army.  I  was 
reading  about  him  the  other  day.  He  was  taken  pris- 
oner at  Sedan  last  summer  while  we  were  in  the  north 
of  Europe,"  said  Scott. 

"  Now,  that  is  not  a  creditable  joke,"  added  the  sur- 
geon. "  You  ought  to  know  better." 

"  But  I  don't  know  any  better." 

"You  are  thinking  of  Marshal  McMahon.  This  is 
O'Donnel,  another  man  entirely,"  interposed  the  doc- 
tor. 

"  It  was  not  a  joke,  but  a  blunder,"  said  Scott,  blush- 
ing. "  They  have  Irish  names ;  and  both  of  them  seem 
to  be  out  of  their  element  in  France  and  Spain.  But 
who  is  O'Donnel,  anyhow  ?  " 

"  He  isn't  McMahon,  anyhow,  —  nor  Gen.  Howe. 
His  ancestors  were  Irish  refugees,  who  came  here  after 
the  battle  of  the  Boyne.  He  went  into  the  Spanish 
army,  and  was  a  colonel  at  the  age  of  twenty-five. 
He  distinguished  himself  as  a  soldier,  and  for  his  ser- 
vices in  Morocco  was  made  Duke  of  Tetuan,  which  is 
a  division  of  that  country.  He  has  had  great  influence 
as  a  statesman,  having  been  minister  of  war,  and  presi- 
dent of  the  council.  He  had  his  ups  and  downs,  as  all 
Spanish  statesmen  have.  He  has  headed  an  insurrec- 
tion, and  has  been  banished.  He  died  in  1867.  You 
must  have  heard  of  him  when  you  were  in  Spain." 

"  I  think  I  did,  sir ;  but  I  have  heard  about  so  many 
men,  that  I  get  them  a  little  mixed." 

"  Like  the  plaza  and   the   alameda  in   all    Spanish 


270  ISLES  OF  THE  SEA  j    OR, 

towns,  this  square  is  the  great  resort  of  the  people  in 
the  evening.  The  band  plays  here,  and  the  scene  is 
quite  lively,"  continued  Dr.  Winstock.  "  When  I  was 
a  young  man  I  used  to  see  a  deal  of  flirting  on  this 
square ;  but  since  I  have  grown  older  I  don't  notice 
such  things.  I  was  stationed  on  the  coast  of  Africa, 
in  a  sloop-of-war,  looking  out  for  slavers ;  and  the  ship 
came  up  here  to  recruit  the  health  of  the  men.  One  of 
our  officers  v/as  smitten  with  a  Santa  Cruz  beauty ;  and 
he  adopted  the  custom  of  the  country.  He  followed 
her  about  the  streets,  dogged  her  steps,  in  a  manner 
that  would  have  amounted  to  an  outrage  at  home.  At 
last  he  obtained  an  introduction  to  her ;  but  this  was 
hardly  necessary,  though  his  prejudices  required  it  of 
him.  But  he  only  saw  her  in  the  plaza,  and  in  the 
Prince  Royal  Square  ;  and  she  evidently  liked  him  as 
well  as  he  did  her.  Not  till  they  were  engaged  was  he 
permitted  by  the  custom  of  the  islands  to  enter  her 
father's  house,  or  hotel  it  was  in  this  instance ;  for  she 
was  a  Canarienne,  and  only  a  temporary  resident." 

"  Did  the  officer  marry  her  ? "  asked  Murray,  with 
deep  interest. 

"  Of  course  you  would  not  be  satisfied  to  have  me 
omit  the  denofiment  of  the  novel,"  added  the  surgeon, 
laughing.  "  He  did  marry  her ;  and  I  think  she  is  a 
dignified  matron  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia  at  this 
time." 

The  party  walked  about  the  city  till  they  had  ex- 
hausted its  sights,  which  was  soon  done.  The  doctor 
introduced  his  charge  to  the  delicious  chocolate  to  be 
had  at  the  cafes  on  the  plaza ;  but  some  of  them 
declared  that  it  was  too  thick,  and  preferred  the  ice- 


YOUNG  AMERICA   HOMEWARD   BOUND.  271 

cream  made  from  the  snows  of  the  peak  of  Teneriffe. 
The  cicerone  then  proposed  a  long  walk,  which  would 
occupy  the  rest  of  the  day. 

"  I  am  ready,  for  one  ;  but  what  do  you  call  a  long 
walk,  doctor  ?  Some  folks  think  three  miles  is  a  long 
walk ;  but  I  don't  apply  the  phrase  to  any  thing  less 
than  fifty  miles,"  replied  Scott. 

"  I  propose  to  go  to  Laguna,  the  ancient  city  of  this 
island.  It  is  five  miles  distant ;  and,  as  the  town  is  two 
thousand  feet  above  the  sea,  it  will  be  up-hill  all  the 
way.  If  you  are  too  tired  to  walk  back,  you  can  return 
in  the  dilijentia" 

The  party  gladly  assented  to  the  plan  ;  and  they 
started  out  of  the  city.  In  a  short  time  they  left  the 
well-paved  streets  of  the  great  road,  which  is  fully 
equal  to  the  royal  highways  of  Spain. 

"  Laguna  is  a  summer  resort  for  the  wealthy  people 
of  Santa  Cruz ;  and  the  heat  on  the  seashore,  when 
the  wind  comes  from  the  coast  of  Africa,  is  intense," 
said  the  doctor,  as  the  party  trudged  on  their  way. 
"  But  it  is  not  the  most  desirable  place  on  the  island, 
for  it  is  subject  to  heavy  rains.  Orotava,  concerning 
which  I  gave  Mr.  Mapps  some  information  for  his  lec- 
ture, is  a  much  more  desirable  place  ;  and  one  of  these 
days,  when  a  railroad  is  built  to  it,  the  citizens  will  live 
there  in  the  summer,  and  do  business  in  the  city.  We 
shall  have  an  opportunity  to  visit  the  place." 

"  What  in  the  world  is  that  growing  in  that  field  ?  " 
asked  Scott,  as  he  looked  over  the  walls  that  bounded 
the  road. 

"  What  do  you  suppose  ?  " 

"  I  haven't  the  least  idea ;  but  the  plants  must  be 
sick,  for  they  seem  to  be  tied  up  in  rags." 


272  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA;    OR, 

"  Those  plants  are  cacti ;  and  I  think  I  have  told 
you  something  about  them  to-day,"  added  the  doctor. 
"  The  rags  are  tied  about  them  to  protect  the  insects, 
for  they  are  full  of  them.  It  takes  about  three  months 
for  them  to  attain  their  growth,  and  be  ready  to  lay  eggs. 
They  furnish  the  principal  occupation  of  the  labor- 
ing-classes since  the  failure  of  the  vine.  When  I  first 
came  along  here,  this  road  was  bordered  with  extensive 
and  beautiful  vineyards  ;  but  they  have  given  place  for 
the  present  to  this  not  very  handsome  plant,  which  was 
brought  here  from  Mexico." 

"  Those  are  funny-looking  houses  !  "  exclaimed  Mur- 
ray, as  they  came  upon  a  little  collection  of  dwellings 
of  the  peasants. 

"  They  are  very  comfortable  houses  for  poor  people," 
replied  the  doctor  ;  "  a  great  deal  better  than  many  of 
the  laboring-people  of  Spain  occupy." 

Some  of  them  were  built  of  stone  ;  others  were  evi- 
dently composed  of  poles  set  in  the  ground  ;  and  in 
the  latter  case  the  walls,  as  well  as  the  roofs,  were 
thatched. 

"  All  the  poor  people  do  not  have  houses  as  good  as 
these,  but,  like  the  gypsies  of  Granada,  have  to  burrow 
into  the  rocks  to  make  caves  for  dwellings.  But  this 
is  a  very  soft  climate,  and  the  house  is  not  of  so  much 
consequence-as  in  Russia  or  Norway." 

"There  is  a  woman  with  a -load  on  her  head!  it 
looks  like  garden-sauce.  There  is  another  with  a  pile 
of  wood  on  her  crown,"  cried  Scott. 

"  Domestic  animals  are  not  very  plenty  in  these 
islands  ;  and  the  women  seem  to  have  a  monopoly  of 
the  carrying-trade,"  continued  the  surgeon. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  273 

"  Hi !  Hi !  "  shouted  Scott,  as  they  turned  a  bend 
in  the  winding  road.  "  There  are  your  beasts  of  bur- 
den ! " 

"  What  are  they  ?  "  asked  Sheridan. 

"  Camels  ;  don't  you  know  them  ?  " 

"  I  never  saw  one  before  in  my  life,  replied  the 
captain  of  the  Prince. 

"  Here  is  a  train  of  them,  each  with  his  bell.  We 
are  not  far  from  the  Great  Desert,  where  these  animals 
do  all  the  carrying ;  and  a  considerable  number  of 
them  have  been  brought  to  these  islands." 

After  a  while  the  novelty  of  the  scenes  along  the 
road  wore  off;  and  some  of  them  declared  that  the 
country  was  not  much  different  from  Madeira.  About 
two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  they  reached  Laguna,  and 
spent  a  couple  of  hours  in  seeing  its  sights.  A  very 
fine  organ  in  the  cathedral  was  shown  to  them  ;  and  in 
another  church  there  was  a  miraculous  picture  in.  which 
the  subject  wept  on  proper  occasions.  They  were 
much  interested  in  the  museum,  where  they  saw  speci- 
mens of  the  implements  used  by  the  aborigines,  who 
'had  no  knowledge  of  the  use  of  iron.  Knives  were 
made  of  pieces  of  lava ;  and  horns  were  used  for 
ploughs.  The  people  embalmed  the  bodies  of  their 
dead  after  the  manner  of  the  Egyptians  ;  and  mum- 
mies enclosed  in  goat-skin  were  on  exhibition. 

About  four  the  excursionists  started  on  their  return  ; 
and  all  of  them  walked,  for,  if  any  were  tired  enough 
to  ride,  they  were  too  proud  to  say  so.  When  they 
had  .gone  about  half  of  the  distance,  the  stage  passed 
them  ;  but  it  immediately  stopped,  and  Dona  Maria 
and  her  father  stepped  out  of  it. 


274  ISLES    OF    THE    SEA  j    OR, 

"  Maria  insists  upon  walking  with  the  young  gentle- 
men," said  Don  Roderigue  apologetically. 

"I  am  dead  of  that  stage!"  protested  the  maiden. 

She  placed  herself  at  the  side  of  Scott,  and  walked 
along  as  briskly  as  any  of  the  party.  She  wanted  to 
talk  English ;  and  she  was  very  proud  of  the  progress 
she  had  made  since  the  students  had  first  come  to  her 
father's  quinta.  Of  course  there  was  no  such  thing  as 
fatigue  after  the  fair  girl  joined  the  party.  The  officers 
were  inclined  to  rally  Scott  a  good  deal  on  account  of 
his  relations  with  the  fair  Portuguese :  but  he  did  not 
appear  to  be  smitten  ;  and,  as  she  did  not  understand 
English  well  enough  to  appreciate  his  humor,  she  was 
not  the  company  he  liked  best. 

The  next  day  another  excursion  was  made  into  the 
country  in  another  direction  ;  but  it  was  about  the  same 
thing  as  before.  The  students  wanted  to  make  the 
ascent  of  the  peak  of  Teneriffe  ;  but  the  undertaking 
was  too  difficult,  if  not  too  dangerous,  for  the  principal 
to  sanction  it.  On  the  third  day  after  the  arrival  of  the 
squadron,  it  sailed  again  for  Las  Palm  as.  A  couple  of 
days  Were  spent  there;  and  the  vessels  proceeded  to 
the  north  side  of  the  island  of  Teneriffe,  and  anchored 
off  the  Puerto  de  Orotava. 

Dr.  Winstock  was  very  anxious  that  the  students 
should  visit  this  place.  Dr.  Phelps,  the  passenger  in 
the  Marian,  declared  that  he  should  spend  the  win- 
ter there  ;  amd  he  was  of  the  opinion  that  he  should 
bring  a  dozen  patients  with  him,  for,  after  he  had 
carefully  examined  the  situation,  he  was  satisfied  that  it 
was  superior  to  Fayal,  Madeira,  Nassau,  or  any  other 
place,  as  a  health  resort  for  persons  with  weak  or  dis- 
eased lungs." 


YOUNG  AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  275 

The  doctor's  usual  party  walked  out  to  the  town, 
which  is  only  a  couple  of  miles  inland;  and  Dona 
Maria  insisted  upon  accompanying  them. 

"  This  town  is  enclosed  by  mountains,  as  you  see,  from 
three  to  seven  thousand  feet  high,  on  all  sides  except 
the  seaward.  It  is  sheltered  from  all  the  bad  winds," 
said  Dr.  Winstock. 

"  But  this  is  April ;  and  we  can't  tell  how  it  feels  in 
the  winter,"  suggested  Dr.  Phelps,  who  had  joined  his 
professional  friend. 

"  But  I  have  been  here  in  the  winter  :  the  glass  never 
falls  below  fifty,  nor  gets  above  eighty-two.  It  is  the 
most  uniform  climate  in  the  world,"  replied  Dr.  Win- 
stock  with  enthusiasm. 

"  But  you  mention  thirty-two  degrees  variation." 

"  You  have  over  a  hundred  variation  in  the  Northern 
States.  But  I  mentioned  the  rarest  extremes.  No  av- 
erage for  a  month  is  below  sixty-two,  or  above  seventy- 
two.  An  invalid  may  sleep  all  the  year  round  with  his 
windows  open  ;  and  fires  are  never  needed.  " 

The  two  physicians  talked  over  this  to  them  interesting 
subject ;  and  the  students  walked  about  the  fields  and 
the  town.  It  was  as  near  paradise  as  any  thing  on 
earth  can  be. 

After  remaining  at  this  place  for  a  couple  of  days, 
the  fleet  went  to  Santa  Cruz  de  Palma  for  a  day,  and 
then  sailed  for  Funchal  on  the  2Qth  of  the  month. 


276  ISLES  OF  THE  SEA  j    OR, 


CHAPTER    XX. 

"  A  YANKEE   SHIP  AND   A   YANKEE   CREW." 

MR.  FRISBONE  and  his  wife  and  Miss  Rodwood 
were  none  the  worse  for  the  benevolent  service 
they  had  rendered  on  board  of  the  Castle  William. 
The  small-pox  patients,  as  stated  before,  had  been  sepa- 
rated by  the  mate  from  the  rest  of  the  people  in  the 
forward  part  of  the  vessel.  The  sanitary  measures 
devised  by  Mrs.  Frisbone,  and  carried  out  by  her  hus- 
band, had  wrought  a  wonderful  change  on  board ;  and, 
when  the  vessel  arrived  at  Portsmouth,  the  condition 
of  the  sick  had  greatly  improved.  The  quarantine  reg- 
ulations were  relaxed  as  much  as  possible  in  favor  of 
the  devoted  nurses  ;  but  the  ladies,  who  had  been  more 
exposed  than  the  Prince,  were  not  permitted  to  leave 
the  limits  of  the  hospital  for  a  few  days. 

As  soon  as  the  Ville  d'Angers  anchored  in  the 
harbor  of  Portsmouth,  Gregory  sent  a  message  by  the 
steward,  that  he  wished  to  see  the  captain.  As  soon  as 
O'Hara  had  leisure  to  attend  to  the  matter,  he  re- 
quested Shakings  to  bring  his  prisoners  into  the  cabin, 
hoping  they  had  repented  of  the  folly  which  had  in- 
duced them  to  "stand  out,"  as  they  expressed  it.  The 
boatswain  promptly  produced  the  mutineers,  and,  touch- 


YOUNG  AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  277 

ing  his  cap,  was  about  to  retire ;  but  O'Hara  desired 
him  to  remain. 

Gregory  appeared,  looking  more  defiant,  if  possible, 
than  when  he  was  committed.  For  nearly  a  week  he 
had  been  kept  in  his  state-room.  The  captain  had  of- 
fered to  allow  him  and  Clinch  to  take  an  airing  on  the 
poop-deck  every  day  for  a  couple  of  hours,  under  the 
eye  of  the  boatswain,  who  was  not  to  permit  them  to 
speak  to  any  of  the  ship's  company  ;  but  both  of  them 
indignantly  declined  the  proposition,  —  they  would  not 
go  on  deck  as  prisoners. 

"  As  I  seem  to  be  subject  to  your  will  and  pleasure, 
O'Hara,  I  wish  to  say  that  you  have  carried  this  thing 
about  far  enough,"  said  the  ex-first  officer,  when  he 
came  into  the  presence  of  the  captain. 

"  That's  just  my  idea,"  added  Clinch,  turning  up  his 
nose  to  express  his  contempt  for  the  young  commander 
of  the  steamer. 

"  If  you  wish  to  see  me  in  order  to  intimidate  me,  I 
have  nothing  to  say,"  replied  the  captain,  with  dignity ; 
but  he  was  greatly  disappointed  at  the  tone  and  man- 
ner of  the  mutineers. 

"  I  think  we  were  clearly  in  the  right  in  refusing  to 
do  duty  when  you  were  running  away  with  the  vessel," 
continued  Gregory. 

"  I  do  not  care  to  argue  the  matter,"  added  O'Hara. 

"  I  want  to  know  who  is  right." 

"The  principal  will  decide  that  in  due  time." 

"  The  principal  is  not  here  to  decide  any  thing." 

"We  can  only  wait  till  we  see  him." 

"  I  don't  intend  to  wait ! "  said  Gregory  angrily.  "  I 
shall  go  on  shore." 


278  ISLES   OF  THE   SEA  j    OR, 

"At  present  the  steamer  is  quarantined  ;  and  no  one 
is  allowed  to  leave  her,"  answered  O'Hara. 

"That's  another  scrape  you've  got  us  into!"  blus- 
tered the  rebel. 

The  captain  made  no  reply  to  this  taunt. 

"  There  has  been  no  show  for  the  officers  from  the 
Josephine  in  this  steamer,"  continued  Gregory.  "Mr. 
Shakings,  I  think  you  ought  to  see  fair  play,  at  least, 
when  an  officer  of  your  own  ship  is  treated  in  this  way." 

"All  the  boatswain  has  to  do  is  to  obey  the  captain's 
orders,"  replied  Shakings  ;  but  he  looked  as  though  he 
had  something  else  to  say  if  the,  occasion  should  re- 
quire it. 

"  Come,  Clinch,  let's  go  on  shore,"  said  Gregory, 
beginning  to  move  towards  the  door. 

"  Mr.  Shakings,  these  officers  are  still  in  your  keep- 
ing," added  the  captain. 

"There  is  no  going  on  shore  for  any  one  in  this 
vessel,"  interposed  the  stout  forward  officer,  as  he 
placed  himself  in  front  of  the  rebels.  "You  will  re- 
turn to  your  rooms." 

"  I  won't  do  it !  "  protested  Gregory  savagely,  as  he 
made  a  spring  towards  the  door. 

"  I  think  you  will,  my  beauty,"  added  the  boatswain, 
as  he  collared  the  rebel,  and  dragged  him  to  his  room. 

Without  any  ceremony,  he  shoved  him  into  the 
apartment,  and  locked  the  door  upon  him.  Clinch  had 
not  the  pluck  to  make  a  forcible  resistance;  and  he 
went  to  his  room  without  the  assistance  of  Shakings. 

"  I  don't  see  that  I  can  do  any  thing  else  with  Greg- 
ory and  Clinch,"  said  O'Hara,  when  the  boatswain  had 
secured  his  prisoners. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  279 

"  I  think  you  are  using  them  very  gently,"  replied 
Shakings.  "  Mr.  Fluxion  will  keep  them  in  the  brig  a 
month  for  this,  and  send  them  out  of  the  cabin  with  the 
lowest  numbers  in  the  ship." 

"  I  only  wish  to  keep  them  from  leading  any  of  the 
other  officers  or  seamen  away  from  their  duty,"  added 
O'Hara. 

"  There  is  not  the  least  danger  of  that :  every  man 
from  the  Josephine  will  stand  by  you  to  the  end." 

As  intimated  in  the  newspaper  the  vice-principal  had 
read  at  Funchal,  Mr.  Frisbone  was  negotiating  with  the 
owners  of  the  Castl^  William  for  the  settlement  of  the 
salvage  ;  but  little  progress  was  made  till  the  discharge 
of  the  Prince  from  the  quarantine,  which  was  done  at 
the  end  of  a  week.  The  vessel  and  cargo  were  ac- 
knowledged to  be  worth  ten  thousand  pounds  ;  and  the 
Prince  accepted  one-half  of  this  sum.  The  owners  of 
the  Ville  d' Angers  were  more  exacting,  and  declined 
to  settle  the  claim.  Proceedings  had  been  instituted 
as  soon  as  the  vessel  arrived  ;  and,  a  few  days  later, 
the  court  decreed  that  one-half  of  her  value  should  be 
paid  by  the  owners  to  the  salvors.  The  vessel  was  to 
be  sold  at  public  vendue  to  determine  her  value  ;  and 
the  shrewd  agent  of  the  owners  was  satisfied  that  a 
French  craft,  sold  in  an  English  port,  would  bring 
but  a  mere  song. 

The  Prince  was  discharged  from  quarantine  in  sea- 
son to  attend  the  auction.  The  agent  expected  no 
competition  in  the  bidding.  His  first  bid  was  four 
thousand  pounds  ;  then  the  Prince  added  another  thou- 
sand, and  continued  to  increase  upon  the  agent  till  the 
sum  of  thirteen  thousand  pounds  was  reached;  and 


280  ISLES    OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

then  the  first  bidder  had  a  cold  sweat,  for  his  instruc- 
tions allowed  him  to  bid  no  more.  The  steamer  was 
struck  off  to  the  Prince  for  "  a  thousand  better." 

The  agent  was  confounded,  and  the  Prince  was  in 
excellent  humor.  He  had  to  pay  only  a  half  of  the 
purchase-money,  for  the  other  half  belonged  to  the 
salvors.  But  the  agent  had  new  instructions  when  it 
was  too  late  ;  and  he  offered  the  Prince  another  thou- 
sand, and  then  two  and  three,  for  his  bargain,  but  the 
buyer  declined  to  sell. 

"  What  do  you  want  of  that  steamer  ? "  asked  Mrs. 
Frisbone,  when  he  told  her  what  he  had  done. 

"I  think  we  will  all  go  to  Madeira  in  her,"  replied 
Mr.  Frisbone,  laughing.  "  I  have  been  bothered  to 
know  what  to  do  with  the  ship's  company  of  the 
steamer;  and  this  settles  the  question.  Besides,  the 
vessel  is  worth  more  than  I  pay  for  her." 

The  Prince  hastened  on  board  of  the  Ville  d' Angers 
to  inform  the  officers  what  he  had  done,  and  to  have 
her  prepared  for  the  voyage  to  Funchal.  Everybody 
on  board  was  pleased  with  the  result  of  the  Prince's 
operations,  unless  it  was  the  prisoners  in  their  state- 
rooms. 

The  steamer  was  immediately  hauled  into  the  dock, 
her  cargo  taken  out  of  her,  for  that  had  been  sold  "  on 
account  of  whom  it  might  concern,"  and  the  proceeds 
had  added  over  eight  hundred  pounds  to  the  result  of 
the  expedition  to  England.  Then  she  ran  up  to 
Southampton,  where  she  coaled  and  took  in  a  supply 
of  provisions  on  the  most  liberal  scale.  By  the  morn- 
ing of  the  2ist,  she  was  ready  to  sail ;  and  not  a  mo- 
ment was  lost  in  getting  under  way. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  281 

The  French  and  Italian  firemen  had  been  discharged, 
and  sent  home  by  the  agent  of  the  owners.  Another 
set  was  employed  for  the  voyage,  and  two  young  Eng- 
lish engineers  were  added  to  the  force  in  the  engine- 
room.  In  fact,  the  vessel  was  fitted  out  as  if  she  were 
to  go  around  the  world.  She  had  been  ballasted  so  as 
to  put  her  into  the  best  sailing-trim  when  the  coal  in 
her  bunkers  should  be  reduced. 

The  article  in  the  newspaper  had  drawn  considerable 
attention  to  the  steamer ;  and  when  she  sailed  there 
was  quite  a  crowd  to  witness  her  departure. 

"  Where  are  you  bound,  captain  ? "  asked  a  young 
man,  as  O'Hara  was  about  to  get  into  the  boat  which 
was  waiting  for  him. 

"  To  Funchal,  in  the  island  of  Madeira,"  replied  the 
young  captain,  hardly  looking  at  the  inquirer ;  for  he 
had  been  tormented  with  questions  ever  since  he  put 
his  foot  on  the  shore. 

The  person  who  asked  the  question  was  not  more 
than  twenty-two  years  of  age,  and  was  accompanied  by 
another  young  man  about  his  own  age.  Both  of  them 
were  dressed  in  travelling  suits  of  gray;  and  they 
appeared  to  belong  to  the  better  class  of  English 
people. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon  for  troubling  you,  captain,"  per- 
sisted the  inquirer. 

"  If  I  can  be  of  any  service  to  you,  I  shall  be  happy ; 
but,  upon  my  sowl,  I  am  in  a  hurry,"  replied  O'Hara 
pleasantly. 

"  It's  only  a  moment  for  another  question.  Could 
you  by  any  possibility  take  a  couple  of  passengers 
along  with  you  ? " 


282  ISLES    OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

"  The  steamer  is  not  a  passenger-vessel,"  answered 
the  captain. 

"  I  am  well  aware  of  that ;  but  it  would  be  a  great 
accommodation  to  us;  for  you  see  we  lost  the  last 
steamer  to  Funchal  by  a  delay  caused  by  a  railway 
accident" 

"  I  do  not  feel  at  liberty  to  take  passengers ;  and  I 
shall  be  obliged  to  refer  you  to  the  agent  of  the  princi- 
pal, Mr.  Frisbone,"  added  O'Hara. 

"  This  gentleman  is  Sir  Philip  Grayner,  baronet," 
said  the  young  man  with  the  applicant  for  a  passage. 

O'Hara  thought  he  was  rather  young  to  be  a  baro- 
net, but  it  was  possible  to  succeed  to  the  title  at  an 
early  age.  But  he  was  not  particularly  impressed  by 
the  fact.  The  information  had  been  imparted  to  him 
as  though  it  was  confidential,  and  he  made  no  use  of  it. 

"  Where  can  I  find  Mr.  Frisbone  ? "  asked  the  baro- 
net, renewing  the  attack. 

"  He  is  on  board  of  the  steamer." 

"  And  how  soon  do  you  sail  ? " 

"  In  the  course  of  an  hour." 

"Thank  you,  captain,"  replied  Sir  Philip  Grayner. 
"The  gentleman  with  me  is  Lord  Fillgrove,"  he  added 
in  a  low  tone. 

"  Another  sprig  of  nobility,"  thought  O'Hara,  as  he 
descended  to  the  boat. 

The  well-trained  crew  gave  way  at  the  order  of  the 
coxswain,  and  the  cutter  was  soon  alongside  of  the  Ville 
d'Angers.  The  vessel  was  only  waiting  for  the  pilot ; 
but  the  time  fixed  for  him  to  be  on  board  had  not 
yet  arrived.  The  cutter  was  hoisted  up  at  the  davits, 
and  secured  for  the  voyage.  The  other  cutter  had 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  28^ 

. 

not  yet  returned  from  the  shore,  where  she  had  gone 
with  a  party  of  the  students  who  had  liberty  to  visit 
the  city.  Leave  had  been  freely  granted ;  and  in  no 
case  had  it  been  abused,  so  far  as  the  officers  were 
aware.  If  any  of  the  young  men  had  drank  beer, 
or  other  dangerous  fluids,  their  condition  when  they 
returned  did  not  indicate  such  indulgence. 

About  half  an  hour  after  the  return  of  the  captain, 
a  boat  containing  the  two  applicants  for  passage  to 
Funchal,  with  their  bags  and  luggage,  came  alongside. 
The  bringing  of  their  baggage  implied  that  they  had  a 
strong  expectation  of  obtaining  what  they  desired.  They 
were  permitted  to  come  on  board,  and  presented  their 
application  to  the  Prince. 

"  We  are  entirely  willing  to  pay  our  passage,"  said 
the  baronet. 

"  By  all  means,  we  shall  do  that,"  added  the  one  with 
the  lordly  title. 

"  That  is  no  particular  object  with  us,"  replied  the 
Prince.  "  We  should  not  take  you  for  the  money  you 
may  pay." 

"  We  will  at  least  pay  for  our  diet  and  the  wines  we 
drink,"  said  Sir  Philip. 

"We  don't  sell  rum  on  this  steamer,"  replied  Mr. 
Frisbone,  very  decidedly.  "If  you  can't  get  along 
without  wine,  I  think  you  had  better  take  passage  in 
some  other  vessel.  We  don't  furnish  any  thing  to  drink 
for  anybody ;  and,  what's  more,  we  don't  allow  any  wine 
or  liquor  to  be  used  about  the  steamer." 

"That's  a  matter  of  no  consequence,"  added  Sir 
Philip,  looking  at  his  companion,  and  giving  him  a  sly 
wink  when  he  was  sure  he  was  not  observed. 


284  ISLES   OF   THE    SEA  ',    OR, 

"  We  don't  care  if  we  never  have  any  thing  in  the 
shapj,  of  wine  or  liquor,"  the  young  lord  agreed. 

"  What's  your  name  ?"  asked  the  Prince  bluntly  of 
the  first  speaker. 

"  This  gentleman  is  Sir  Philip  Grayner,"  said  his 
lordship. 

"  And  my  friend  is  Lord  Fillgrove,"  added  the  baronet. 

"  Then  you  are  docks  and  lords,"  continued  Mr. 
Frisbone ;  but  he  seemed  to  be  pleased  at  the  idea  of 
meeting  them. 

"  My  friend  is  a  viscount,"  replied  Sir  Philip. 

"  And  mine  is  a  baronet,"  said  Lord  Fillgrove. 

"  All  right !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Frisbone,  in  his  usual 
loud  tone.  "  I  am  an  American  Prince  myself." 

The  Prince  talked  with  Capt.  O'Hara  and  with 
Capt.  Fairfield  about  the  matter ;  and  it  was  agreed 
that  the  passengers  would  be  a  pleasant  addition  to  the 
ship's  company.  There  were  some  spare  state-rooms  ; 
for  the  space  between  decks,  called  the  "  second  cabin," 
had  been  fitted  up  for  the  crew,  and  it  was  a  very  light 
and  airy  place  for  them.  They  preferred  it  to  the  main 
cabin  ;  and  it  was  more  conducive  to  good  discipline  to 
have  the  officers  farther  removed  from  the  seamen. 

Each  of  the  passengers  took  his  choice  of  the  state- 
rooms not  in  use.  The  Prince  introduced  them  to  his 
wife  and  her  sister  under  their  full  titles. 

"  This  is  a  very  unexpected  pleasure,  Prince  Fris- 
bone," said  Sir  Philip.  "  I  was  not  aware  that  we  were 
to  have  the  pleasure  of  ladies'  society  on  the  voyage." 

"  Prince  Frisbone  !  "  exclaimed  the  worthy  machinist, 
laughing  heartily.  "  That  sounds  odd." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon ;  but  I  think  you  told  me  you 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  285 

were  an  American  Prince  ;  and,  as  you  did  not  dispute 
my  title,  I  am  not  disposed  to  deny  your  claim,"  an- 
swered Sir  Philip. 

"  I  suppose  your  title  is  a  little  more  regular  than 
mine  ;  but  we  won't  quarrel  about  these  trifles,"  added 
the  Prince.  "  This  is  now  a  '  Yankee  ship  and  a  Yan- 
kee crew  ; '  and  I  have  an  idea  that  one  man  is  as  good 
as  another  on  board  of  her." 

"No  doubt  of  it ;  but  I  perceive  that  there  is  a  great 
difference  between  the  officers  and  the  seamen,"  sug- 
gested Lord  Fillgrove. 

"  Not  a  bit  of  difference.  No.  24  is  just  as  good  as 
the  captain,"  protested  the  American  nobleman. 

"  But  one  commands,  and  the  other  obeys." 

"  That's  true  ;  but  we  don't  have  any  classes  of  citi- 
zens. The  day-laborer  on  town-meeting  day  is  the  equal 
of  the  man  worth  a  million  that  hires  him  ;  and  any 
fellow  before  the  mast  in  this  vessel  may  be  captain  of 
her  the  very  next  month.  Here  is  Capt.  O'Hara  :  when 
he  was  at  this  port  last,  he  was  a  seaman ;  and  next 
month  he  may  be  a  seaman  again." 

"  I  hope  not,"  said  O'Hara,  laughing.  "  But  I  heard 
that  the  principal  and  the  faculty  were  getting  up  a  new 
way  to  fill  the  offices  on  board  of  the  vessels  of  the 
squadron ;  and  some  of  us  may  slip  up  when  it  is  ap- 
plied." 

"  It's  all  very  democratic,"  added  Lord  Fillgrove. 

The  coming  of  the  pilot  put  an  end  to  the  conversa- 
tion, though  the  two  young  "  sprigs  of  nobility  "  made 
themselves  as  agreeable  as  possible  to  the  ladies,  whom 
they  escorted  to  the  hurricane-deck  so  as  to  afford  them 
an  opportunity  to  observe  the  scenery  of  "  Southamp- 


286  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

ton  Water  "  and  "  The  Solent,"  as  the  steamer  went  to 
sea. 

The  anchor  had  been  heaved  up  to  a  short  stay  ;  and, 
as  soon  as  the  pilot  was  on  the  deck,  the  order  was 
given  to  man  the  capstan  again.  The  young  tars  were 
wide  awake,  and  the  pilot  said  he  had  never  seen  a 
steamer  better  handled  than  the  Ville  d' Angers  was  on 
this  occasion. 

In  a  couple  of  hours  the  steamer  was  off  the  Nee- 
dles, and  the  pilot  was  discharged.  Capt.  O'Hara  was 
his  own  navigator,  though  Tom  Speers  and  first  officer 
Lawring  also  worked  up  the  problems,  and  drew  off  the 
courses  from  the  chart,  to  verify  the  captain's  work. 
The  first  course  was  from  the  Needles,  the  point  of 
"  departure,"  to  Ushant.  The  weather  was  delightful, 
and  all  on  board  were  happy  except  the  two  malecon- 
tents  in  their  state-rooms.  The  extra  engineers  were 
intelligent  and  agreeable  men,  and  the  firemen  were  a 
great  improvement  upon  the  French  and  Italian  ones. 

Gregory  and  Clinch  had  several  times  been  offered 
the  liberty  of  the  deck,  under  the  charge  of  the  boat- 
swain; and  the  offer  had  been  declined.  But  the 
captain  and  the  instructor  did  not  consider  it  prudent 
to  allow  them  to  hold  any  communication  with  the  offi- 
cers and  seamen  of  the  vessel,  for  Gregory  was  still 
in  a  mood  to  foment  a  mutiny. 

The  steward  who  carried  their  meals  to  the  prisoners 
gave  them  the  current  news  of  the  day,  so  far  as  he 
obtained  it  himself ;  and  they  were  tolerably  well  post- 
ed. After  the  sale  of  the  steamer  to  the  Prince,  the 
aspect  of  the  case  began  to  change,  as  the  mutineers 
viewed  it.  They  had  expected  that  the  Ville  d'An- 


YOUNG  AMERICA   HOMEWARD   BOUND.  287 

gers  would  be  given  up  to  the  owners,  and  the  ship's 
company  sent  to  Madeira  in  a  passenger  -  steamer. 
That  had  been  the  talk  before  the  mutiny.  Gregory 
was  confident  that  the  change  from  the  vessel  to  the 
packet  would  afford  them  an  opportunity  to  escape 
from  the  rule  of  Capt.  O'Hara  and  the  instructor. 

The  ex-first  officer  was  the  son  of  a  rich  man,  an 
Englishman  who  had  been  naturalized  in  New  York. 
He  had  a  letter  of  credit  for  a  large  amount,  and  he 
was  fully  determined  not  to  return  to  the  squadron. 
This  hope  faded  away  when  the  steward  told  him  the 
steamer  had  been  purchased  by  the  Prince,  and  would 
sail  for  Madeira  as  soon  as  possible.  He  was  appalled 
at  the  idea.  He  was  sure  Mr.  Fluxion  would  degrade 
him  to  the  lowest  number  in  the  Josephine ;  and  he 
was  too  proud  and  haughty  to  tolerate  for  an  instant 
ths  thought  of  such  a  humiliation. 

He  wanted  to  consult  with  Clinch  about  the  present 
situation.  He  knew  that  the  state-room  of  his  fellow- 
conspirator  was  next  to  his  own ;  but  he  dared  not 
attempt  to  converse  with  him  through  the  partition, 
lest  they  should  be  heard  by  the  officers  in  the  cabin, 
and  another  room  be  assigned  to  one  of  them.  When 
the  steamer  began  to  move,  he  listened  attentively  at 
the  door;  but  no  sound  came  from  that  direction. 
The  bull's-eye  in  his  room  was  open,  and  he  could 
hear  voices  on  the  deck  above  him. 

He  knocked  on  the  partition  to  attract  the  attention 
of  Clinch ;  and  he  had  often  done  so  before,  though 
the  conspirators  had  been  unable  to  make  each  other 
understand  more  than  a  few  words.  His  companion 
in  misery  promptly  replied  to  his  call. 


288  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  j    OR, 

"  Make  a  hole  in  the  partition,"  said  he ;  and  he 
rapped  several  times  to  indicate  the  place  for  it. 

"All  right,"  replied  Clinch. 

But  they  had  to  repeat  what  they  said  several  times 
before  they  could  be  understood.  Gregory  had  given 
his  present  plan  careful  consideration.  He  had  se- 
lected a  spot  behind  the  dressing-case  that  was  fast- 
ened to  the  bulkhead.  With  his  pocket-knife  he  had 
removed  the  screws  from  the  case,  and  arranged  it  so 
that  he  could  restore  it  at  an  instant's  notice. 

Clinch's  dressing-case  was  on  the  other  side  of  the 
partition,  and  the  aperture  to  be  made  could  be  con- 
cealed on  Clinch's  side  in  the  same  manner  as  on  his 
own.  As  soon  as  the  case  was  removed,  he  went  to 
work  with  his  knife.  The  partition  was  a  double  one, 
composed  of  boards  extending  diagonally,  but  from 
opposite  angles  in  the  two  rooms. 

After  half  an  hour's  diligent  work  he  had  cut  a  hole 
half  an  inch  in  diameter  through  one  thickness  of  the 
partition.  He  had  spread  a  towel  under  the  place 
where  he  was  working,  to  receive  the  chips,  so  that  they 
ihould  not  betray  him.  It  was  not  so  easy  to  cut 
through  the  sectmu  x»<jmu;  it  could  be  better  done  by 
Clinch  on  the  other  side.  Taking  one  of  the  gimlet- 
screws  he  had  removed  from  the  dressing-case,  he 
turned  it  with  his  knife  till  he  had  passed  it  through 
the  second  board.  He  then  unscrewed  it,  and  en- 
larged the  hole  with  a  small  blade  of  his  knife,  till  it 
would  admit  the  lead  pencil  he  carried  in  his  pocket. 

The  dressing-case  consisted  of  a  looking-glass,  un- 
der which  was  a  rack  for  bottles  and  glasses,  and  a 
couple  of  small  drawers.  He  had  made  the  hole 


YOUNG   AMERICA   HOMEWARD   BOUND.  289 

where  the  back  of  one  of  these  drawers  had  been. 
With  the  lead  pencil,  he  pushed  the  drawer  in  Clinch's 
room  out  as  far  as  the  length  of  the  implement  used 
would  permit.  His  fellow-conspirator  observed  the 
movement  of  the  drawer,  and  removed  it  from  the  case. 
He  saw  the  hole,  and  fully  comprehended  the  plan  of 
his  friend. 

"  Take  out  the  screws  from  the  dressing-case,"  said 
Gregory,  with  his  mouth  at  the  aperture. 

Clinch  complied  with  the  request  without  making 
any  reply ;  for  he  was  afraid  he  should  be  heard,  and 
the  plan  spoiled  before  it  was  carried  out. 

"  All  right,"  said  he,  when  he  could  get  his  mouth 
close  to  the  hole. 

"  Cut  out  the  hole  till  it  is  as  large  as  on  this  side. 
Put  your  towel  down  so  as  to  save  the  chips,"  replied 
Gregory,  in  a  low  tone. 

Clinch  went  to  work,  and  in  a  short  time  he  had 
made  the  aperture  of  the  same  size  all  the  way  through. 
But  half  an  inch  was  rather  small,  and  they  enlarged  it 
to  an  inch,  which  would  enable  them  to  talk  with  less 
danger  of  being  heard.  The  dressing-cases  were  then 
restored  to  their  former  positions.  Gregory  had  im- 
proved upon  his  plan  as  the  work  proceeded ;  and  it 
was  necessary  to  remove  only  the  drawers  on  each  side 
when  they  wished  to  talk  together.  Each  could  call 
the  attention  of  the  other  by  shoving  out  the  drawer. 
If  any  one  came  to  the  door  of  either  state-room  while 
the  contrivance  was  in  use,  it  could  be  concealed  by 
restoring  the  drawer. 

"How  are  you  now?"  asked  Gregory,  when  the 
cases  had  been  replaced. 


ISLES  OF  THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

"  All  right !  this  is  a  first-class  arrangement,"  replied 
Clinch. 

"  Put  your  mouth  close  up  to  the  case,  and  speak  very 
low,"  added  Gregory,  who  was  as  much  pleased  with 
his  invention  as  though  it  had  been  a  useful  ma- 
chine. 

"  I  will,"  answered  Clinch  in  a  whisper.  "  Can  you 
hear  me?" 

"  Very  distinctly.  The  steamer  is  in  still  water  now ; 
and  we  may  have  to  speak  louder  when  she  gets  to 
sea," 

"  I  heard  some  strange  voices  in  the  cabin  before  the 
steamer  sailed.  Do  you  know  who  they  are  ?  "  asked 
Clinch. 

"  I  don't.  I  have  not  heard  them  since  the  screw 
began  to  turn,"  answered  Gregory.  "  I  believe  I  have 
heard  one  of  the  voices  before ;  but  I  can't  think  whose 
it  is  now." 

"  It  may  be  some  friend  of  yours.  Your  folks  are 
English." 

"  But  they  all  live  in  Lancashire ;  and  none  of  them 
are  likely  to  be  in  this  part  of  England." 

"We  can  find  out  who  they  are  when  the  steward 
brings  our  dinner,"  added  Clinch. 

"  I  don't  suppose  it  makes  much  difference  to  us  wha 
the  strangers  are.  Things  look  black  enough  on  this 
side  of  the  house,"  said  Gregory,  in  a  rather  despond- 
ing tone. 

"  So  they  do  on  this  side,"  replied  Clinch.  "  We  can 
be  a  little  more  sociable  than  we  have  been  j  and  that's 
all." 

"  I  don't  give  it  up  yet.'* 


YOUNG  AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  291 

"  Give  what  up  ? " 
"Getting  out  of  this  scrape." 
"  I  don't  see  any  way  out  of  it." 
A  footstep  in  the  cabin  caused  them  both  to  insert 
the  drawers,  and  close  the  conversation. 


ISLES   OF   THE   SEA;    OR, 


CHAPTER   XXI. 

THE   SPRIGS   OF   NOBILITY. 

EVERY  thing  went  well  with  the  vessel  and  her 
management.  The  officers  and  seamen  were  faith- 
ful and  attentive  to  their  duty,  so  far  as  those  in  charge 
could  discover.  The  weather  was  all  that  could  be 
desired  ;  and  the  Ville  d'Angers  logged  from  twelve 
to  fifteen  knots  an  hour.  The  quarter-watches  were 
amply  sufficient  for  the  duty  of  the  ship,  and  the  four 
engineers  made  it  easy  work  for  Alexander  and  Rich- 
ards. 

The  Prince  had  superintended  the  provisioning  of 
the  steamer,  and  he  had  done  it  in  the  most  lavish 
manner.  The  fare  was  better  than  that  furnished  on 
the  vessels  of  the  squadron,  good  as  that  was ;  and  the 
students  could  not  help  speaking  of  the  fact. 

"  We  fare  better  than  I  ever  did  at  the  best  hotels 
in  Europe,"  said  O'Hara,  when  they  were  seated  at 
dinner. 

"You  deserve  good  feed,"  said  the  Prince,  laughing. 
"  This  has  been  a  big  expedition  we  undertook.  I  was 
figuring  it  up  before  we  sailed ;  and  I  found  we  had 
made  twenty-eight  hundred  pounds,  besides  the  value  of 
the  Dangers." 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  293 

"  Besides  what  ?  "  demanded  Mrs.  Frisbone. 

"The  Dangers.  Don't  you  know  the  name  of  the 
steamer  you  sail  in,  the  Yankee  ship  with  the  Yankee 
crew  ? "  answered  the  Prince,  who  pronounced  French 
.as  it  was  written,  in  spite  of  the  frequent  admonitions 
of  his  educated  wife. 

"  The  Ville  d'Angers,"  added  the  lady,  pronouncing 
correctly  the  name  of  the  steamer. 

"  I  should  have  to  have  my  tongue  split  like  a  crow, 
before  I  could  say  that ;  and  I  don't  mean  to  try.  The 
Dangers  suits  me  better,"  retorted  the  Prince  good- 
naturedly.  "  We  were  in  a  got»d  many  dangers  while  we 
were  in  her  at  first ;  and  that's  the  best  name  in  the 
world  for  her.  I  was  saying  I  had  twenty-eight  hundred 
pounds,  besides  the  Dangers,  all  made  out  of  this  cruise 
to  the  nor'ard ;  and,  as  the  young  gentlemen  have 
done  all  the  work,  I  was  determined  that  they  should 
live  like  fighting-cocks  while  I  had  any  thing  to  do 
with  them." 

"Thank  you,  Mr.  Frisbone,"  added  O'Hara.  "I 
think  we  are  all  in  condition  to  appreciate  good  living. 
What  are  you  going  to  do  with  this  steamer  after  you 
have  returned  us  all  to  the  vessels  of  the  squadron  ? " 

"  That  will  be  for  the  principal  to  say.  The  steamer 
belongs  to  him,  and  not  to  me  ;  for  it  was  one  of  his 
squadron  that  picked  her  up,"  replied  the  Prince.  "  I 
think  he  had  better  use  her  as  one  of  the  vessels  of  his 
fleet,  and  sell  out  his  sailing-vessels.  It  won't  be 
many  years  before  sails,  except  with  steam,  will  go  out 
of  fashion." 

"  She  will  accommodate  as  many  as  the  two  schoon- 
ers, after  she  has  been  fitted  up  for  the  purpose,"  con- 


294  ISLES    OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

tinued  the  captain.  "  She  is  nearly  as  fast  as  the 
Prince ;  and,  if  we  had  been  in  her  when  we  left  Gib- 
raltar, we  should  have  sailed  with  her." 

"  Upon  my  word,  I  should  have  liked  to  be  a  student 
in  such  a  vessel  when  I  was  a  youngster,"  said  Sir 
Philip  Grayner,  who  sat  at  the  table  about  opposite  the 
state-room  of  Gregory. 

"You  are  not  much  more  than  a  youngster  now," 
added  the  Prince,  laughing  at  the  cool  way  of  the 
baronet. 

"  I  am  two  and  twenty,"  replied  Sir  Philip. 

"  Then  you  are  not  much  more  than  a  year  older 
than  Mr.  Speers,  the  second  officer ;  and  he  is  a  mil- 
lionnaire  at  that." 

"  A  millionnaire  !  "  exclaimed  the  baronet. 

"  Please  not  mention  that,  Mr.  Frisbone,"  interposed 
Tom,  blushing. 

"  It  isn't  your  fault,  my  boy ;  and  I  don't  blame  you 
for  it,"  added  the  Prince.  "  He  is  more  than  that,  Sir 
Philip  :  he  is  a  three-millionnaire." 

Tom's  secret  had  come  out  in  spite  of  the  vigilance 
with  which  he  had  guarded  it.  The  sprigs  of  nobility 
made  themselves  very  intimate  with  him  ;  and  all  the 
students  wanted  to  know  about  it,  for  most  of  them 
could  recollect  how  careful  he  was  of  the  small  store 
of  money  he  possessed. 

"  A  millionnaire,  is  he  ? "  said  Gregory,  in  the  state- 
room, for  the  open-work  above  the  door  enabled  him 
to  hear  every  word  that  was  said  in  that  part  of  the 
cabin.  "  And  he  is  a  great  crony  with  O'Hara." 

"  I  should  like  to  get  in  with  such  a  fellow,"  replied 
Clinch.  "  But  what  are  we  going  to  do  with  ourselves  ? 


YOUNG   AMERICA   HOMEWARD   BOUND.  295 

I  have  had  about  enough  of  this  life  in  a  state- 
room." 

"  So  have  I,  to  be  entirely  candid,"  added  Gregory. 
"  The  fellows  are  having  a  magnificent  time,  and  we 
are  here  under  lock  and  key." 

"  Are  you  going  to  back  down  ?  " 

"  There  are  two  kinds  of  back-downs ;  and  it  makes 
some  difference  which  one  you  mean.  I  am  .not  going 
to  kiss  O'Hara's  great  toe,  or  any  thing  of  that  sort ; 
but  I  am  willing  to  come  down  a  little  for  the  sake  of 
getting  out  of  this  scrape." 

"  All  right.  Tell  the  steward  that  we  want  to  see 
the  captain  ;  and  you  needn't  be  so  unutterably  grand 
as  you  were  the  last  time  you  saw  him,"  replied  Clinch. 

"  I  meant  to  treat  him  with  proper  contempt ;  and, 
if  I  ever  get  hold  of  him,  I  shall  be  even  with  him  in 
some  way,"  blustered  Gregory. 

"  That's  all  gas !  "  exclaimed  Clinch,  who  was  rather 
disgusted  with  the  lofty  ways  of  his  companion^m 
rebellion.  "What's  the  use  of  talking  in  that  way? 
O'Hara  has  the  weather-gauge  of  you,  and  you  can't  do 
any  thing." 

"  I  know  I  can't  now,  while  he  has  Shakings  to  fight 
his  battles  for  him,"  growled  Gregory. 

"  He  does  just  as  the  principal  and  the  vice-princi- 
pals do:  they  never  touch  a  fellow  with  their  own 
hands  ;  they  called  on  the  boatswains." 

"  If  the  boatswain  had  been  out  of  the  way,  I  would 
have  made  an  end  of  O'Hara's  reign.  I  am  sure  I 
could  have  got  about  all  the  fellows  from  the  Josephine 
to  join  our  party." 

"  So  much  the  bigger  fool  you,  for  standing  out  before 


296  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

you  had  said  any  thing  to  the  fellows.  Even  Stokes 
backed  square  down  when  it  came  to  the  scratch." 

"  I  was  feeling  very  badly  when  I  did  it.  That  Bur- 
gundy did  not  agree  with  me  ;  it  made  me  as  cross 
and  sour  as  a  baby  at  midnight.  I  did  not  intend  to 
do  any  thing  till  the  moment  came  when  I  did  it." 

"  It  is  no  use  of  grumbling  about  what  is  past  and 
gone.  We  are  in  the  scrape  ;  and  the  question  is,  how 
shall  we  get  out  of  it  ? "  said  Clinch,  somewhat  soft- 
ened by  the  confession  of  his  friend. 

Gregory  told  how  he  intended  to  manage  the  matter 
when  the  steamer  was  given  up ;  but  this  plan  had 
been  spoiled  by  the  purchase  of  the  vessel.  The  one 
thing  he  dreaded  was  being  returned  to  the  Joseph- 
ine. He  was  conscious  that  he  had  been  guilty  of 
gross  disobedience  and  insubordination.  He  had  no 
confidence,  whatever  in  the  excuse  he  had  offered,  that 
O'Hara  \fas  running  away  with  the  steamer,  and  disre- 
garding the  instructions  of  the  senior  vice-principal. 
This  plea  was  only  an  excuse  for  rebelling  against  the 
authority  of  the  captain ;  and  he  was  sure  it  would  not 
be  accepted  by  Mr.  Fluxion.  The  voyage  to  England 
had  been  a  decided  success ;  and  the  enterprise  had 
been  fully  indorsed  by  all  the  adults  on  board. 

It  was  the  feeling  that  he  had  been  snubbed  by 
O'Hara,  that  the  captain  had  not  "  made  enough  "  of 
him,  which  had  excited  his  wrath.  He  had  come  on 
board  of  the  Ville  d'Angers  with  the  expectation  that 
the  voyage  was  to  be  a  sort  of  pleasure-excursion  ;  and 
the  recitations  and  the  quarter-watches,  which  practi- 
cally transferred  the  work  and  the  discipline  of  the 
squadron  to  the  steamer,  were  exceedingly  distasteful  to 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  297 

him.  But  the  Burgundy  was  'responsible  for  his  mutin- 
ous conduct  ;  and  without  that  he  might  have  got 
along  with  the  minor  difficulty  in  his  path. 

He  could  not  tolerate  the  idea  of  returning  to  the 
Josephine,  and  taking  the  penalty  of  his  misconduct. 
He  was  ready  to  resort  to  the  most  desperate  expedi- 
ent to  avoid  the  merited  punishment.  Since  the  sale 
of  the  vessel,  he  had  been  cudgelling  his  brain  to 
devise  the  plan.  He  had  hoped  to  become  the  cap- 
tain of  the  Josephine  in  due  time ;  but  now  he  had 
given  up  the  idea :  the  Burgundy  had  robbed  him  of 
all  his  expectations  in  connection  with  the  academy 
squadron.  He  must  get  away,  and  keep  away  from  it. 

Clinch  listened  to  all  this  long  story,  and  confessed 
that  he  was  in  the  same  boat  as  his  companion.  But 
his  father  was  not  a  rich  man  ;  and  he  could  not  cruise 
all  over  the  world,  for  the  want  of  the  means.  But 
Gregory  declared  that  he  had  money  enough  to  take 
them  both  around  the  world ;  and,  as  long  as  his  friend 
would  stick  by  him,  he  should  want  for  nothing. 
Whatever  they  did,  they  were  to  stick  together. 

At  supper-time  Gregory,  who  did  all  the  planning 
and  scheming,  had  not  settled  upon  any  course  of 
action.  The  officers  of  one  watch  and  the  passengers 
were  at  the  table  in  the  cabin.  The  prisoners,  whose 
time  hung  heavily  on  their  hands,  listened  attentively 
at  the  doors  of  their  rooms  to  the  conversation.  Greg- 
ory heard  the  voice  which  he  believed  he  had  heard 
before,  as  he  told  Clinch.  It  sounded  even  more  famil- 
iar than  at  dinner. 

"  You  are  going  off  on  your  travels,  I  suppose,"  said 
the  Prince. 


298  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  j    OR, 

"  No,  sir :  I  am  going  to  Funchal  on  a  bit  of  a  lark," 
replied  the  person  with  the  well-known  voice.  "  I  have 
long  wanted  to  go  there ;  but  I  could  not  get  away  from 
the  university  till  this  spring.  I  am  through  with 
schools  for  the  rest  of  my  lifetime ;  and  now .  I  am  go- 
ing to  enjoy  myself,  if  I  can." 

"  Are  you  going  to  stop  long  in  Madeira,  Sir  Philip  ?  " 
asked  the  Prince. 

"  Sir  Philip  !  "  exclaimed  Gregory  to  himself  ;  and 
this  was  the  first  time  he  had  heard  the  name  of  either 
of  the  passengers. 

"Only  till  I  get  tired  of  the  island.  It  may  be  a 
week,  or  a  month,"  added  the  baronet. 

"Where  are  you  going  then  ?  "  inquired  the  Prince. 

"  I  haven't  the  least  idea.  I  am  opposed  to  laying 
out  a  pleasure-excursion  in  advance." 

"We  shall  go  wherever  it  suits  our  fancy  to  go  when 
we  have  done  the  island,"  added  Lord  Fillgrove. 

"Lord  Fillgrove  and  I  are  perfectly  agreed  on  this 
trip,"  said  Sir  Philip.  "We  were  in  the  university  to- 
gether, and  we  have  considered  the  matter  for  years." 

"  Lord  Fillgrove !  "  exclaimed  Gregory,  as  he  heard 
the  name  of  the  other  passenger. 

He  listened  to  the  conversation  till  the  close  of  sup- 
per ;  and,  after  the  steward  had  given  him  his  evening 
meal,  he  opened  communication  with  his  fellow-pris- 
oner. 

"Did  you  hear  the  names  of  the  two  passengers, 
Clinch  ? "  he  asked,  when  his  friend  had  placed  his  ear 
at  the  opening  in  the  partition. 

"  I  did :  one  is  a  lord,  and  the  other  is  a  sir,"  replied 
Clinch. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  299 

"  Sir  Philip  Grayner  is  my  cousin  ;  and  I  had  the 
biggest  lark  with  him  I  ever  had  in  my  life.  It  was 
before  I  joined  the  squadron,  when  I  went  over  to 
England  with  my  father  on  a  visit." 

"  Who's  the  other  fellow  ?  " 

"  He  is  a  friend  of  my  cousin  ;  and  I  met  him  in  Lan- 
caster when  I  was  there.  He  is  the  eldest  son  of  an 
earl ;  and  I  believe  they  call  him  a  viscount.  He  is 
addressed  as  Lord  Fillgrove." 

"  Do  they  know  you  are  on  board  ? "  asked  Clinch, 
much  interested  in  the  information  conveyed  to  him. 

"  I  don't  know :  I  don't  suppose  they  do.  But  we 
must  get  out  of  this  place  as  soon  as  we  can  ;  and  I 
know  my  cousin  will  help  us  all  he  can." 

"  It  is  easy  enough  to  say,  get  out ;  but  how  will  you 
do  it  ? " 

"  We  must  back  down,  —  come  clear  down,"  replied 
Gregory  earnestly. 

"  That  don't  sound  like  you,  Dave,"  added  Clinch. 

"  Of  course  you  know  what  I  mean,"  continued  the 
chief  mutineer,  apparently  annoyed  at  the  remark  of 
his  friend.  "  We  are  not  going  to  become  chaplain's 
lambs,  or  any  thing  of  that  sort." 

"But  you  must  go  down  on  your  knees  to  Capt. 
O'Hara,  the  mighty  one,  who  is  the  supreme  authority 
on  board  of  the  Vitle  d'Angers,"  answered  Clinch, 
in  a  contemptuous  tone. 

"  I  will  even  do  that,  if  it  is  necessary,"  added  Greg- 
ory. 

"  I  won't !  "  exclaimed  Clinch. 

"  Don't  be  a  fool !  we  must  get  out  of  these  state- 
rooms ;  and  that's  the  only  way  to  do  it.  But  I  don't 


300  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

think  O'Hara  will  be  very  hard  on  us.  Of  course  he 
won't  attempt  to  punish  us.  He  has  offered  us  the 
freedom  of  the  deck  under  the  eye  of  the  boatswain ; 
and  we  must  accept  that,  if  we  can't  get  any  thing  bet- 
ter. I  want  to  be  where  I  can  have  a  talk  with  my 
cousin.  I  don't  expect  O'Hara  will  restore  us  to  our 
positions  as  first  and  third  officers,  for  those  places  are 
now  filled  by  fellows  from  the  Josephine.  All  I  want 
is  to  get  out  of  this  state-room  :  don't  you  see  ? " 

"  I  see ;  but  I  don't  want  to  go  down  on  my  knees  to 
a  fellow  from  the  Tritonia.  I  will  do  any  thing  you 
say ;  and  I  can  stand  it  if  you  can." 

"  I  can  stand  it  well  enough  when  the  thing  is  done 
for  a  purpose,"  replied  Gregory  very  cheerfully.  "  I 
will  do  the  talking  when  we  are  before  the  mighty 
Capt.  O'Hara.  Leave  it  to  me." 

Clinch  was  entirely  willing  to  leave  it  to  his  friend. 

"I  have  been  figuring  things  up  a  little  since  the 
steamer  sailed,"  continued  Gregory.  "  What  day  of  the 
month  is  this,  Clinch?" 

"The  2ist:  I  heard  one  of  the  fellows  at  the  table 
say  so  at  dinner,"  replied  Clinch. 

"Good!  then  we  shall  not  get  to  Funchal  till  the 
26th  or  27th.  At  that  time  the  squadron  will  have 
been  out  over  a  fortnight,  nearly  three  weeks.  I  have 
no  idea  that  Mr.  Lowington  wilT  stay  in  Funchal  so 
long,"  argued  Gregory.  "  He  will  start  the  fleet  for 
the  Western  Islands,  or  wherever  he  is  going  next,  and 
leave  orders  there  for  the  absentees  to  follow  him." 

"  That  may  be  ;  and  you  think  he  will  be  'gone  when 
we  get  there  ? "  mused  Clinch. 

"  I  am  almost  sure  of  it.     He  will  get  news  by  the 


YOUNG  AMERICA   HOMEWARD   BOUND.  301 

regular  steamer  from  the  Ville  d'Angers  ;  and  he  won't 
wait  for  her.  When  we  reach  Madeira,  we  must  get 
away  from  the  vessel.  I  am  sure  my  cousin  will  help 
us  out;  and  we  will  join  them  on  their  trip." 

This  was  entirely  satisfactory  to  Clinch  ;  and,  as  soon 
as  he  saw  the  bearing  of  the  "back-down,"  he.  was 
willing  even  to  kiss  O'Hara's  toe  in  order  to  forward 
the  plan. 

Gregory  was  an  inventive  genius ;  and,  before  the 
first  half  of  the  last  dog-watch  had  expired,  he  had 
improved  upon  his  plan,  and  decided  to  put  it  in  opera- 
tion at  once.  He  was  so  impatient  that  he  was  not 
willing  to  wait  till  the  next  day.  He  did  not  feel  quite 
as  well  as  usual ;  and  he  really  wished  he  was  a  little 
sicker  than  he  was.  This  suggested  a  way  to  get  at 
the  captain  at  once.  He  could  easily  make  himself  a 
little  sicker  than  he  was.  He  had  formerly  been  -  sub- 
ject to  a  certain  kind  of  headache ;  and  he  carried  in 
his  bag  a  medicine  the  family  physician  had  given 
him  before  he  left  home.  It  always  produced  nausea 
to  a  considerable  degree.  He  took  a  dose  of  it ;  and 
in  a  short  time  he  was  sick  in  real  earnest.  Possibly 
his  confinement  in  his  room  had  made  him  more  sus- 
ceptible to  nausea. 

He  knocked  loudly  on  his  door;  and,  when  the 
steward  came  to  inquire  what  he  wanted,  he  stated  that 
he  was  sick,  and  desired  to  go  on  deck.  The  captain 
was  consulted,  and  the  order  was  promptly  given  for 
Shakings  to  conduct  him  to  the  deck.  The  acting 
head  steward  offered  his  services,  and  he  received 
every  attention  his  case  required.  When  Mrs.  Frisbone 
heard  that  he  was  ill,  she  went  to  him. 


302  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  j    OR, 

"I  have  been  feeling  badly  for  some  time;  and  I 
took  some  medicine  which  our  family  doctor  gave  me," 
said  the  sufferer. 

"  I  think  it  is  quite  enough  to  make  one  sick,  to  be 
shut  up  in  that  state-room  as  you  have  been,  Mr. 
Gregory,"  replied  the  lady,  when  she  had  examined 
into  the  condition  of  the  invalid. 

"  I  am  generally  very  well,  and  I  have  not  had  occa- 
sion to  take  any  of  this  medicine  for  a  long  time," 
added  Gregory. 

Mrs.  Frisbone  spoke  to  the  captain  about  the  case, 
and  expressed  her  opinion  in  regard  to  it. 

"I  have  several  times  offered  to  let  him  go  on  deck 
for  an  hour  or  two,  and  he  has  refused  to  do  so,"  re- 
plied O'Hara. 

"  Certainly  it  was  his  own  fault  that  he  has  not  had 
any  more  air  and  exercise,"  added  the  lady. 

"  I  am  willing  to  go  still  farther,"  continued  O'Hara, 
who  did  not  wish  to  injure  the  health  of  any  student, 
however  guilty  he  might  be.  "  I  will  see  him  in  the 
morning,  and  will  endeavor  to  give  both  Gregory  and 
Clinch  more  liberty  than  they  have  had,  and  without 
the  assistance  of  the  boatswain,  for  they  refused  the 
offer  because  Shakings  was  to  have  charge  of  them." 

The  patient  was  permitted  to  stay  on  deck  as  long 
as  he  pleased  ;  but  he  did  not  see  Sir  Philip  Grayner, 
who  was  playing  whist  in  the  cabin  with  the  Prince  and 
the  ladies.  When  he  went  to  his  room,  and  was  locked 
in  as  usual,  he  told  Clinch  what  he  had  been  about. 

At  eight  bells  the  next  morning,  O'Hara  sent  for  the 
two  prisoners,  and  they  were  brought  into  the  cabin  by 
the  boatswain.  Both  of  the  "  sprigs  "  were  there  ;  and 


YOUNG  AMERICA  HOMEWARD  BOUND.      303 

Sir  Philip  looked  him  fairly  in  the  eye,  but  made  no 
sign  whatever  that  he  knew  him,  or  had  ever  seen  him. 
Gregory  thought  it  very  strange  that  his  cousin  did  not 
recognize  him,  especially  when  Capt.  O'Hara  called 
him  by  name. 

"  I  hope  you  are  better  this  morning,  Mr.  Gregory," 
said  O'Hara ;  and  he  expected  a  rude,  if  not  an  insult- 
ing reply. 

"  I  am  much  better,  I  thank  you,  Capt.  O'Hara," 
answered  the  prisoner.  "  I  wish  to  say  that  I  am  sick, 
and  I  can't  stand  it  to  be  locked  up  in  that  room,  now 
that  the  port  has  to  be  closed." 

Gregory  spoke  in  a  respectful  tone ;  and  O'Hara 
could  not  but  notice  the  change  in  his  manner. 

"  I  am  very  sorry  that  it  became  necessary  to  confine 
you  to  your  room  ;  but  I  have  tried  to  have  you  take 
air  and  exercise,"  added  O'Hara.  "  I  understand  you 
to  object  to  the  attendance  of  Mr.  Shakings." 

"  I  did  object ;  but  I  do  not  now.  I  am  willing  to 
do  any  thing  you  deem  proper,  and  to  confess  "  — 

"  I  shall  not  try  your  case,  Mr.  Gregory ;  and  it  is 
quite  unnecessary  for  you  to  make  any  acknowledg- 
ments to  me,"  interposed  the  captain.  "  I  have  a  prop- 
osition to  make  to  you  and  Mr.  Clinch,  which  I  hope 
will  not  be  considered  humiliating.  Both  of  you  shall 
have  the  liberty  of  the  vessel,  provided  you  will  promise 
not  to  speak  to  any  officer  or  seaman  of  the  steamer." 

"  It  is  a  very  .liberal  offer;  and  I  am  much  obliged 
to  you  for  it,  captain.  I  thankfully  accept  the  proposi- 
tion, and  promise  not  to  speak  to  any  officer  or  sea- 
man of  the  vessel,"  replied  Gregory. 

"  I  will  do  the  same,"  added  Clinch. 


304  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

"  I  will  modify  the  condition  so  far  as  to  provide  that 
you  hold  no  private  conversation  with  the  officers  and 
seamen.  I  do  not  wish  to  prevent  you  from  speaking 
on  the  ordinary  topics  of  the  day.  You  will  take  your 
meals  with  the  officers  in  the  cabin ;  and  you  are  free 
to  talk  as  much  as  you  please  at  the  table." 

"  Thank  you,  captain,"  replied  Gregory  meekly. 

"  Sir  Philip,  this  is  Mr.  Gregory,"  said  the  captain, 
as  the  young  baronet  was  about  to  pass  them. 

"  Mr.  Gregory,  I  am  happy  to  make  your  acquaint- 
ance," replied  Sir  Philip  with  no  sign  of  recognition ; 
and  the  baronet  passed  out  of  the  cabin. 

Gregory  was  utterly  confounded  at  the  conduct  of 
his  cousin.  The  captain  soon  after  presented  Lord 
Fillgrove,  whom  the  ex-first  officer  had  met  not  more 
than  two  years  before ;  but  he  was  as  innocent  of  all 
knowledge  of  him  as  his  cousin  had  been.  Neither  of 
them  seemed  to  be  inclined  to  cultivate  his  acquaint- 
ance, perhaps  because  he  was  under  a  cloud  just  then. 
After  breakfast  Gregory  went  on  deck,  where  he  met 
the  "  sprigs  "  again. 

"You  don't  know  me,  do  you,  Phil?"  demanded 
Gregory,  with  considerable  indignation  in  his  tones. 

"  Of  course  I  know  you,  Dave,"  replied  Sir  Philip 
coldly,  as  he  looked  about  him  to  ascertain  what 
officers  were  in  sight.  But  none  were  on  the  poop- 
deck  ;  for  all  of  them  not  on  duty  were  attending  to 
their  studies. 

"  You  seem  to  be  as  stiff  as  though  you  were  not 
glad  to  see  me,"  added  Gregory. 

"  I  came  on  board  of  this  ship  on  purpose  to  get  you 
out  of  this  scrape,  and  I  will  do  it  yet ;  but  we  had 


YOUNG  .AMERICA   HOMEWARD   BOUND.  305 

better  seem  not  to  know  each  other  very  well,"  replied 
Sir  Philip,  gazing  at  the  blue  sky  above  him.  "  Wait 
till  we  get  to  Funchal.  I  want  you  to  go  with  Fill- 
grove  and  me  on  an  excursion  of  a  year  or  two," 

"  All  right,  Phil,  I  thought  by  your  actions  that  you 
intended  to  cut  me,"  added  Gregory,  seeing  the  wisdom 
of  his  cousin's  precaution,  "  I  want  to  get  out  of  the 
academy  squadron." 

"  You  shall ;  and  we  will  have  a  bigger  lark  than  we 
did  when  you  were  in  England  before." 

"  That  was  a  large  time,"  said  Gregory,  recalling  with 
pleasure  the  "spree,"  for  that  was  what  it  was. 

"  I  met  a  fellow  by  the  name  of  Stokes  in  Southamp- 
ton, who  belonged  to  the  ship ;  and  I  asked  him  about 
you.  He  told  me  you  were  kept  a  prisoner  in  your 
state-room  because  you  wouldn't  kiss  the  captain's  great 
toe ;  and  I  am  here  to  attend  to  your  case,"  continued 
the  baronet,  still  looking  at  the  sky.  "  But  let  us  be 
any  thing  but  friends." 

Gregory  assented ;  but  during  the  rest  of  the  voyage 
he  had  some  long  talks  with  him.  In  four  days  more, 
the  Ville  d'Angers  arrived  at  Funchal,  —  on  the  inora- 
ing  of  the  2jth  j  but  the  fleet  was  not  there. 


306  ISLES   OF  THE  SEA;    OR, 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

WHAT  THE   STUDENTS   SAW   IN   THE  AZORES. 

ON  the  last  day  of  the  month,  the  academy  squad- 
ron sailed  into  the  harbor  of  Funchal,  arriving 
from  the  Canaries  in  advance  of  the  mail-steamer  which 
sailed  from  Southampton  six  days  before.  The  vessels 
anchored  off  the  Loo  Rock ;  for  it  was  intended  by  the 
principal  to  remain  only  long  enough  to  take  on  board 
the  ship's  company  of  the  Ville  d' Angers,  when  the 
mail-steamer  came  in. 

She  did  not  appear  till  afternoon ;  and  no  one  went 
on  shore  till  that  time,  not  even  Don  Roderigue,  his 
wife  and  daughter;  for  they  had  been  so  hospitably 
entertained,  that  they  .were  disposed  to  prolong  their 
stay  on  board  of  the  Marian  as  long  as  possible.  The 
family  were  even  considering  an  invitation  of  Judge 
Rodwood  to  visit  the  Western  Islands  in  the  steam- 
yacht.  At  two  o'clock,  when  the  mail-steamer  came 
into  the  harbor,  Mr.  Fluxion  and  Mr.  Pelham,  each  in 
the  first  cutter  of  the  vessel  under  his  charge,  went  to 
the  packet,  to  receive  his  portion  of  the  Ville  d'Angers' 
ship's  company. 

The  two  vice-principals  went  on  board  of  the  steamer 
as  soon  as  it  was  allowable  to  do  so.  Great  was  their 


YOUNG  AMERICA   HOMEWARD   BOUND.  307 

astonishment  when  the  purser  informed  them  that  no 
such  passengers  as  those  they  described  were  on  board 
of  the  packet. 

"They  went  to  Portsmouth  in  the  steamer  Ville 
d' Angers,  towing  the  wreck  of  the  Castle  William," 
added  Mr.  Fluxion. 

"  Oh,  yes  !  I  know  all  about  them  !  "  exclaimed  the 
purser.  -"They  picked  up  the  steamer;  and  she  was 
sold  to  settle  the  salvage.  The  odd  gentleman  they 
called  a  prince  bought  her;  and  the  ship's  company 
which  brought  her  there  sailed  in  her  for  Funchal  on 
the  2ist  of  the  month,  three  days  ahead  of  this  packet." 

Mr.  Pelham  was  sent  to  the  American  Prince  to  re- 
port this  news,  while  Mr.  Fluxion  hastened  up  to  the 
city  to  see  the  agent  of  the  principal,  who  was  his 
banker.  This  gentleman  informed  the  vice-principal 
that  Capt.  O'Hara  had  visited  his  office  three  days 
before ;  and,  when  the  banker  told  him  the  fleet  had 
gone  to  the  Canary  Islands,  he  had  departed,  leaving 
no  intimation  of  his  intentions.  On  inquiry  later  in 
the  day,  he  learned  that  the  Ville  d' Angers  had  sailed 
for  Santa  Cruz,  Teneriffe.  Mr.  Fluxion  hastened  to  the 
principal  with  this  intelligence.  Mr.  Lowington  was 
confounded  by  it. 

"  Then  they  are  still  roaming  over  the  ocean  in  that 
steamer,"  said  he.  "  I  have  no  agent  or  banker  in 
Santa  Cruz ;  and  I  left  no  word  there  as  to  the  destina- 
tion of  the  squadron.  O'Hara  will  not  be  able  to  ob- 
tain any  information  as  to  where  we  are,  or  are  to  be." 

"  I  don't  see  that  any  harm  can  come  to  them :  they 
are  in  a  good  vessel,  and  have  proved,  by  their  voyage 
to  England  and  back,  that  they  know  how  to  handle  it," 


308  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

said  Mr.  Fluxion,  laughing.  "  I  suppose  Mr.  Frisbone 
is  still  with  them  ;  at  any  rate,  Capt.  Fairfield  is ;  and 
they  are  attending  to'  their  studies,  the  same  as  they 
would  if  they  were  on  board  of  the  schooners." 

After  thinking  the  matter  over,  Mr.  Lowington  was 
reconciled  to  the  situation.  The  Ville  d'Angers  had 
been  gone  three  days  and  a  half  from  Madeira.  It  was 
time  for  her  to  return,  even  if  she  followed  the  fleet  to 
Palma,  which  had  been  the  last  island  the  squadron 
had  visited.  The  students  were  allowed  to  go  on  shore 
in  the  afternoon,  and  escort  Don  Roderigue  and  his 
family  to  their  home.  A  feast  was  provided  for  them 
in  the  evening,  and  Dona  Maria  was  as  fascinating  as 
ever.  But  in  the  evening  they  bade  the  family  adieu, 
not  expecting  to  see  them  again,  for  they  had  decided 
not  to  go  to  the  Azores  in  the  Marian. 

At  noon  on  the  following  day,  as  the  Ville  d'Angers 
did  not  appear,  the  squadron  was  ordered  to  sail  at 
once  for  the  Western  Islands.  The  principal  left 
orders  with  his  banker  for  the  steamer  to  follow  him 
if  she  put  into  Madeira  again.  It  was  the  first  day  of 
the  month,  and  the  offices  were  distributed  on  board 
of  the  Prince  ;  but,  as  one-third  of  the  ship's  company  of 
the  other  vessels  were  absent,  the  award  of  positions  was 
assigned  to  an  early  day  after  the  arrival  of  the  Ville 
d'Angers'  people. 

"  But  what  shall  I  do  ? "  asked  Judge  Rodwood, 
when  the  principal  had  issued  the  order  to  sail  at  once. 

"  You  can  do  as  you  think  best,  judge,"  answered 
Mr.  Lowington.  "  If  you  run  over  to  the  Canaries 
again,  you  may  possibly  find  this  truant  steamer." 

"  As  we  have  just  come  from  there,  I  don't  care  to 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  309 

go  again,"  replied  the  judge.  "  I  think  I  shall  follow 
you ;  for  I  am  sure  the  truants  will  find  you  in  the  end. 
I  am  out  for  a  cruise ;  and  I  intended  to  visit  all  these 
islands  on  my  way  home." 

The  Marian  followed  the  squadron  ;  and,  after  a 
comfortable  run  of  four  days,  the  fleet  anchored  off  the 
town  of  Horta,  in  the  island  of  Fayal.  As  the  wind  was 
east,  the  vessels  had  smooth  water ;  and  the  students 
were  assembled  at  once  to  hear  Professor  Mapps's  talk 
about  the  Azores. 

"The  Azores  are  about  two  thousand  miles  from 
Boston,  the  direction  being  a  little  south  of  east.  And 
the  Prince  or  the  Marian  would  make  the  voyage  in 
six  days,  while  our  schooners,  with  a  smashing  breeze 
all  the  way,  would  do  it  in  eight  or  nine.  These  islands 
have  received  various  names ;  and  people  now  call 
them  indifferently  the  '  Western '  and  the  '  Azores.' 
They  are  the  most  western  of  the  four  groups  of 
islands  lying  nearest  to  the  Western  Continent;  and 
this  explains  the  first  name.  The  other  word  comes 
from  the  Portuguese  afor,  a  hawk ;  and  I  suppose  the 
early  settlers  found  that  bird  here.  The  Portuguese 
word  is  afores,  with  a  mark  like  a  comma  under  the  c, 
which  makes  it  sound  like  an  s.  They  have  also  been 
called  the  Flamingos,  or  Flemish,  the  latter  being  the 
Portuguese  for  the  former.  They  were  so  called  from 
the  people  of  Flanders  who  settled  here. 

"It  is  a  little  odd  that  these  islands,  like  those 
we  have  lately  visited,  were  discovered  by  navigators 
who  were  driven  off  their  course  by  heavy  weather. 
In  this  instance  it  was  one  J.  Vanderberg,  a  merchant 
of  the  city  of  Bruges,  making  a  voyage  to  Lisbon,  who 


310  ISLES    OF   THE   SEA;    OR, 

had  the  unfortunate  good  fortune  to  discover  these 
islands  in  the  year  1431.  When  Vanderberg  finally 
reached  Lisbon,  he  was  imprudent  enough  to  mention 
his  discovery.  At  this  time  Portugal  was  at  the  height 
of  the  wonderful  prosperity  I  have  before  described  to 
you ;  and  she  was  ambitious  to  acquire  all  the  territory 
she  could.  An  expedition  was  immediately  fitted  out, 
which  first  visited  the  Formigas,  near  St.  Mary,  which 
we  saw  yesterday  morning.  In  due  time  the  Portu- 
guese obtained  full  possession  of  all  the  islands  of  the 
group  ;  and  have  held  it  to  the  present  time.  The  rev- 
olutions of  the  mother-country  have  extended  to  these 
islands ;  and  it  is  said  that  the  women  displayed  more 
of  the  spirit  of  resistance  than  the  men  in  some  of 
them. 

"These  islands  lie  between  thirty-six  and  forty, 
north  latitude,  and  twenty-five  and  thirty-two,  west 
longitude.  They  are  a  province  of  the  kingdom  of 
Portugal,  and  are  represented  in  the  general  Cortes, 
Madeira  and  the  Azores  having  five  deputies.  The 
islands  are  subdivided  into  three  districts, — the  eastern, 
western,  and  central,  —  according  to  location.  You 
observe  that  the  islands  are  considerably  scattered,  and 
it  takes  more  than  a  day's  sail  for  a  fast  steamer  to  go 
from  one  extremity  of  the  group  to  the  other. 

"Corvo  and  Flores  form  the  western  district.  The 
latter  is  the  larger  island,  about  ten  miles  by  seven ; 
and  the  other  is  about  half  its  size.  They  are  of  vol- 
canic origin,  like  all  the  group ;  and  are  mountainous, 
some  of  the  peaks  being  about  three  thousand  feet  high. 
Santa  Cruz  is  the  chief  town  of  Flores :  it  is  seldom 
visited  by  ships,  except  whalers,  which  obtain  supplies 
there  cheaper  than  at  the  other  islands. 


YOUNG   AMERICA   HOMEWARD   BOUND.  311 

"  The  central  district  is  composed  of  five  islands,  of 
which  Fayal  and  Pico  are  the  principal.  It  is  three 
and  a  quarter  miles  across  the  channel  between  them 
at  the  narrowest  place.  Fayal  takes  its  name  from 
faya,  a  beech-tree,  and  is  about  a  dozen  miles  in  diam- 
eter. Of  its  population  of  thirty  thousand,  one-third 
are  here  in  Horta,  and  the  rest  in  nine  villages  in  the 
interior.  This  place  is  the  capital,  and  it  has  the  best 
harbor  in  the  island ;  but  it  is  exposed  to  winds  from 
the  north  and  north-east,  and  from  th«  south-east  to  the 
south-west.  The  south-east  gales  are  the  worst  ones, 
and  they  rake  the  anchorage  so  that  it  sometimes 
becomes  necessary  for  ships  to  put  to  sea  to  keep  out 
of  danger. 

"  Of  course  you  have  noticed  the  high  mountain  to 
the  south-east  of  us ;  it  is  the  peak  of  Pico,  from  which 
the  island  takes  its  name.  This  island  is  twenty-five 
miles  long,  and  from  two  to  nine  miles  wide.  It  is 
covered  with  extinct  volcanoes.  The  sugar-loaf  peak 
of  Pico  is  over  seven  thousand  feet  high.  The  kind 
of  clouds  which  gather  around  the  mountain  indicate 
the  coming  weather,  so  that  it  is  a  barometer  to  those 
who  have  the  skill  to  read  the  signs.  The  island  con- 
tains a  large  population.  By  the  Statesman's  Year 
Book,  I  find  that  the  area  of  these  islands  is  a  little 
less  than  a  thousand  square  miles,  and  the  population 
about  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand.  The  grape 
disease,  of  which  I  have  spoken  before,  extended  to 
the  Western  Islands;  and  since  that  time  the  wine- 
trade  has  been  very  small  The  principal  production 
is  oranges.  The  wine  from  this  island  was  called  Pico- 
Madeira  ;  and  it  is  still  manufactured  to  .some  extent. 


312  ISLES  OF   THE  SEA;    OR, 

"  St.  George  is  thirty  miles  long,  and  five  wide  ;  and 
has .  a  peak  four  thousand  feet  high  in  the  centre. 
Griciosa  is  about  seven  miles  in  diameter,  and  noted 
for  its  fertility,  producing  all  kinds  of  grain  in  abun- 
dance. Terceira  was  so  called  because  it  was  the  third 
island  discovered  by  the  Portuguese,  the  word  being 
the  feminine  of  the  ordinal  'third.'  It  is  about  twenty 
miles  in  diameter,  and  exceedingly  fertile.  It  has  been 
called  the  principal  island  of  the  group.  Angra  was 
formerly  the  capital  of  the  islands,  and  is  a  larger  place 
than  Horta,  containing  over  ten  thousand  inhabitants> 
which  is  a  quarter  of  the  population  of  the  island.  Its 
harbor  is  sheltered  from  the  west  by  the  promontory  of 
Monte  Brazil,  over  five  hundred  feet  high.  It  is  one 
of  the  finest  of  the  Atlantic  cities. 

"  Sao  Miguel,  or  St.  Michael,  is  the  largest  and  most 
populous  of  the  Azores.  Its  length  is  variously  given 
from  thirty-five  to  fifty  miles,  and  from  five  to  twelve 
miles  wide.  Like  the  other  islands,  it  is  full  of  volca- 
noes, and  is  remarkable  for  some  curious  changes  in  its 
surface;  as  a  grassy  plain,  covered  with  trees  and  foli- 
age, was  raised  two  thousand  feet  by  volcanic  action  in 
a  year.  Old  craters  become  lakes ;  and  I  hope  you 
will  see  an  example  of  this  kind  here  in  Fayal.  In 
1811  an  island  rose  out  of  the  sea,  less  than  two  miles 
from  the  shore,  and  the  English  took  possession  of  it ; 
but  when  they  came  to  look  for  their  new  territory,  a 
few  weeks  later,  it  '  had  gone  down  to  drink,' —  had 
disappeared  in  the  ocean. 

"  Ponta  Delgada  is  considered  the  third  city  of  the 
Portuguese  Dominion,  and  is  on  the  south  side  of  this 
island ;  its  population  has  been  estimated  as  high  as 


YOUNG   AMERICA   HOMEWARD   BOUND.  313 

fifty  thousand.  It  looks  like  most  of  the  Portuguese 
cities  you  have  seen.  The  island  is  very  productive, 
making  a  large  commerce  for  this  city,  which  is  its  prin- 
cipal port. 

"  One  of  the  principal  industries  of  Fayal  is  basket- 
making  ;  and  stores  for  the  sale  of  these  wares  are  to 
be  found  in  Boston  and  New  York.  Lace  and  fine 
needle-work  are  also  specialties,  for  the  wages  of 
working-women  are  only  a  fourth  of  what  they  are  in 
the  United  States.  One  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  a 
year*will  support  a  Portuguese  family,  but  not  an  Amer- 
ican. These  islands  are  very  much  resorted  to  by  peo- 
ple from  our  own  country  who  are  troubled  with  pul- 
monary complaints,  though  the  climate  is  hardly  so 
free  from  changes  as  that  of  Madeira,  and  certainly 
not  as  Orotava,  in  the  Canaries.  Some  of  us  have 
seen  the  bark  Kate  Williams  coming  out  of  Boston 
Harbor,  with  her  deck  crowded  with  passengers  for 
these  islands ;  and  one  or  two  other  vessels  ply  between 
the  same  city  and  Fayal." 

The  professor  finished  his  talk ;  and  the  next  morn- 
ing a  boat  expedition  was  organized,  in  which  all  the 
cutters  and  barges  of  the  fleet  took  part.  Wainwright 
and  Scott,  by  changing  with  a  couple  of  officers  in  the 
captain's  gig  of  the  Prince,  obtained  places  in  the  same 
boat  with  Dr.  Winstock,  Sheridan,  and  Murray.  The 
view  from  the  anchorage  was  magnificent,  covering  an 
expanse  of  green  hill-sides  and  of  burnt  and  blackened 
mountains,  the  highest  in  sight  being  the  peak  of  Pico. 

"  Can  you  tell  me  where  the  Pra9a  Constitution  is, 
doctor?"  asked  Scott,  as  he  gazed  at  the  pretty  white 
houses  of  the  town. 


314  ISLES   OF  THE  SEA  j    OR, 

"  I  think  there  was  no  square  of  that  name  when  I 
was  here  before ;  but  very  likely  they  have  one  by  this 
time,"  replied  the  surgeon,  laughing.  "  Of  course  a 
Spanish  or  Portuguese  town  cannot  get  along  without 
one.  On  our  right  is  the  castle  of  Santa  Cruz ;  and 
this  name  is  quite  as  indispensable  as  that  of  the  Con- 
stitution. Next  to  it  is  the  mole,  where  you  will  land 
when  you  go  on  shore.  The  hills,  which  look  so  steep 
and  rugged  in  places,  are  about  five  hundred  feet 
high." 

"  Here  is  a  steep  one  on  the  starboard,"  added  -Mur- 
ray. 

"  That  is  only  half  the  height  I  named.  It  is  Monte 
Queimada,  a  volcano.  Its  sides  look  like  a  mass  of 
cinders ;  but  the  streets  and  roads  of  this  vicinity  are 
of  the  same  thing,  as  are  many  of  the  sides  of  the  hills. 
Now  we  are  approaching  Monte  da  Guia.  It  is  nearly 
five  hundred  feet  high.  That  building  on  this  side  is 
a  chapel." 

The  boats  pulled  around  the  point,  and  soon  came 
to  an  opening  in  the  cliffs,  not  more  than  an  eighth  of 
a  mile  wide,  into  which  the  Prince's  gig,  leading  the 
way,  entered,  and  proceeded  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile. 

"  Now  we  are  in  the  crater  of  a  dead  volcano,"  said 
the  doctor,  after  the  oarsmen  had  been  directed  to  lie 
on  their  oars.  "  The  inside  of  it  has  been  blown  out  by 
the  commotion  of  the  elements,  and  one  side  of  it  has 
caved  in  so  as  to  form  a  passage  into  it.  You  can  see 
clearly  the  form  of  the  crater  on  the  land  side.  We 
call  these  extinct  volcanoes ;  but  they  are  liable  to 
break  out  anew  at  any  time.  Nine  years  ago  the  earth 
was  fearfully  shaken  by  internal  commotions,  so  that 


YOUNG   AMERICA   HOMEWARD   BOUND.  315 

the  people  left  their  houses,  under  whose  falling  walls 
they  were  in  danger  of  being  buried,  and  lodged  in  tents. 
But  the  ground  may  open  and  draw  them  in  at  any 
time." 

The  students  gazed  with  wondering  interest  at  the 
interior  of  the  crater.  The  fleet  of  boats  then  pulled 
out  and  around  the  Point  into  Pirn  Bay,  an  enclosure 
formed  by  the  peninsula  at  the  end  of  which  is  the 
Caldeira  Inferno,  as  the  burnt-out  volcano  is  called, 
meaning  "  the  caldron  of  hell,"  a  name  to  which  it  is 
properly  entitled.  Pirn  Bay  is  only  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
wide  ;  but  it  is  perfectly  sheltered  by  the  high  hills 
mentioned,  and  the  island,  on  three  sides,  but  is  open 
on  the  south-west.  It  has  a  castle  for  its  defence ; 
and  the  streets  of  the  town  of  Horta  extend  over  to  it, 
so  that  the  port  is  used  for  loading  small  vessels. 

The  boats  returned  by  noon,  and  the  students  were 
well  pleased  with  the  excursion ;  but  most  of  them 
were  anxious  to  get  out  into  the  country,  where  the 
orange-trees  were  in  their  glory.  After  dinner  they 
were  permitted  to  land,  and  visit  the  town,  or  roam  on 
the  hill-sides,  as  they  chose. 

"  Nearly  two  hundred  whale-ships  used  to  come  into 
this  port  for  supplies,  and  to  unload  their  oil,  which 
was  shipped  from  here  to  the  United  States,"  said  Dr. 
Winstock,  when  the  party  had  landed  at  the  mole. 
"A  great  many  of  the  people  of  these  islands  have 
engaged  in  the  whale-fishery  in  our  ships,  which  has 
induced  them  to  emigrate  to  our  country ;  and  there 
is  a  part  of  New  Bedford  called  '  New  Fayal.'  " 

"  I  think  I  should  emigrate  if  the  ground  was  liable 
to  open  and  swallow  me  up,"  said  S.cott. 


3*6  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA;    OR, 

"  The  people  are  used  to  that  sort  of  thing,"  added 
Murray. 

"Used  to  being  swallowed  up  in  the  earth!"  ex- 
claimed Scott.  "  I  believe  it  would  take  me  a  long  time 
to  get  used  to  that  sort  of  thing ;  for  I  am  inclined  to 
think  it  hurts." 

"  Used  to  the  liability,  I  mean,"  protested  Murray. 

"That  is  certainly  the  case,"  said  the  doctor.  "One 
does  not  heed  danger  after  he  gets  used  to  it.  There 
are  thousands  of  people  who  would  not  risk  themselves 
on  the  ocean,  as  you  do  every  day  of  your  lives  without 
thinking  any  thing  of  it  at  all." 

The  party  walked  all  over  the  town  without  seeing 
any  thing  that  particularly  attracted  their  attention,  or 
that  was  worth  recording.  The  next  day  they  went  to 
the  Caldron,  which  is  an  extinct  volcano.  The  crater 
is  five  miles  around,  the  sides  sloping  uniformly  down 
to  the  depth  of  seventeen  hundred  feet,  and  being  cov- 
ered with  grass  and  foliage  of  plants.  At  the  bottom 
is  a  lake  with  a  small  island  in  the  middle  of  it.  This 
island  is  a  hill  having  a  hole  in  the  top  of  it,  from 
which  the  subterranean  fires  once  poured  out. 

Another  day  was  given  to  an  excursion  over  to  Pico ; 
and  then  the  regular  work  of  the  schoolroom  was  re- 
sumed. The  squadron  remained  a  week  at  the  port  of 
Horta,  wondering  why  the  Ville  d'Angers  did  not  come. 

"  I  am  afraid  my  ward  has  given  you  the  slip  alto- 
gether," said  Judge  Redwood,  when  all  hands  were  out 
of  patience  at  the  non-arrival  of  the  steamer. 

"I  do  not  think  so  now;  though  I  had  some  painful 
suspicions  to  that  effect  in  the  first  of  it,"  replied  Mr. 
Lowington. 


YOUNG  AMERICA   HOMEWARD   BOUND.  317 

"  Capt.  O'Hara  has  certainly  had  time  enough  to  get 
here,"  added  the  judge.  "  It  is  not  more  than  a  three- 
days'  run  from  Teneriffe  to  these  islands." 

"Unless  the  Ville  d' Angers  returned  to  Funchal, 
Capt.  O'Hara  would  not  know  where  to  look  for  the 
squadron,"  argued  the  principal.  "  I  have  no  doubt 
the  students  are  safe  enough,  and  that  they  will  join 
us  some  time.' 

"  There  may  have  been  a  row  on  board,"  suggested 
Dr.  Phelps.  "You  remember  the  captain  had  some 
trouble  with  his  crew,  according  to  the  English  paper 
which  gave  us  the  news." 

"  I  do  not  apprehend  any  thing  serious  on  that  ac- 
count ;  for  the  boatswain  and  the  carpenter  will  obey 
the  orders  of  the  captain,  whatever  happens ;  and  he 
has  the  means  to  conquer  any  rebellion  with  their 
help." 

"  But  we  have  heard  nothing  from  them  since  the 
newspaper  account,  except  that  they  had  sailed  for 
Funchal,  and  then  from  Funchal  for  the  Canaries,"  con- 
tinued the  judge.  "  Are  we  to  wait  here  till  they 
come  ?  " 

"  It  is  a  run  of  nearly  eighteen  hundred  miles  to  the 
Bermudas,  which  is  our  next  stopping-place  ;  and  I 
should  like  to  see  the  Ville  d' Angers  before  she  sets  out 
on  this  long  voyage,"  replied  Mr.  Lowington.  "  I  have 
my  doubts  whether  Mr.  Frisbone,  as  he  has  the  invalid 
sister  of  his  wife  with  him,  will  care  to  go  any  farther 
than  Madeira ;  and  I  depend  upon  him  to  assist  in 
keeping'  things  straight  on  board  of  the  steamer." 

Another  day  passed,  and  the  Ville  d'Angers-  came 
not.  Mr.  Lowington  began  to  be  anxious,  and  -the 


318  ISLES  OF   THE   SEA;    OR, 

judge  was  more  impatient  than  ever.  At  last,  after  a 
long  conference,  it  was  decided  that  the  two  steamers 
of  the  fleet  should  return  to  the  Madeiras  in  search  of 
the  truants.  Before  night  they  were  on  their  way  ;  but 
they  were  not  ten  hours  out  of  Horta  when  the  fog 
settled  down  upon  them,  and  they  were  buried  in  it  till 
they  were  near  their  destination.  They  went  into  the 
harbor  of  Funchal;  but  the  Ville  d' Angers  had  not 
returned. 


YOUNG  AMERICA   HOMEWARD    BOUND.  319 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

CARRYING  OUT  THE  PROGRAMME. 

CAPT.  O'HARA  went  on  shore  as  soon  as  the 
Ville  d' Angers  dropped  her  anchor  in  the  harbor 
of  Funchal.  After  considerable  inquiry  he"  found  the 
agent  of  the  principal,  and  was  very  much  surprised  to 
learn  that  the  fleet  had  sailed  for  the  Canary  Islands, 
leaving  no  instructions  for  him.  The  agent,  or  banker, 
knew  nothing  whatever  of  the  intentions  of  Mr.  Low- 
ington,  nor  even  where  the  academy  squadron  was 
going  from  the  Canaries. 

When  the  fleet  sailed  from  Funchal,  Mr.  Lowington 
and  the  vice-principals  had  no  doubt  whatever  that  the 
absent  students  would  return  to  Jhe  Madeiras  by  the 
mail-steamer  which  would  arrive  the  last  of  the  month. 
For  this  reason  the  principal  had  not  thought  to  leave 
any  instructions  for  O'Hara.  They  were  all  confident 
they  should  find  the  party  domiciled  at  a  hotel  on  their 
arrival  from  the  Canaries,  or  on  board  of  the  packet, 
if  the  fleet  arrived  before  her.  The  problem  was  sim- 
ple enough  ;  and  there  appeared  to  be  no  chance  for  a 
failure  to  connect. 

O'Hara  was  on  shore  a  couple  of  hours  in  his  search 
for  the  banker,  and  in  looking  up  what  information  he 


32O  ISLES   OF  THE  SEA;    OR> 

could  obtain  in  regard  to  the  fleet.  As  soon  as  the 
island  of  Porto  Santo  was  seen  from  the  fore-top  of  the 
steamer,  Gregory  and  Clinch  began  to  be  very  nervous 
about  the  prospect  ahead.  They  feared  that  the 
Josephine  was  still  at  Funchal,  in  spite  of  Gregory's 
theory  to  the  contrary.  Whatever  disposition  was 
made  of  the  rest  of  the  ship's  company  of  the  steamer, 
they  were  sure  they  should  be  handed  over  to  the 
senior,  vice-principal  on  board  of  the  schooner.  They 
would  at  once  be  sent  into  the  steerage  of  the  vessel ; 
and  this  they  regarded  as  the  worst  fate  that  could  pos- 
sibly befall  them . 

Since  they  had  the  liberty  of  the  steamer,  they  had 
been  planning  all  sorts  of  wild  expeditions  with  the 
"  sprigs,"  who  had  the  highest  opinion  of  the  enter- 
prise of  Gregory.  They  did  not  care  for  Clinch ;  but 
they  would  rather  take  him  than  lose  his  companion 
in  rebellion.  They  all  desired  to  see  the  island  of 
Madeira ;  and  they  were  willing  to  stay  there  a  month 
or  more  in  the  springtime.  After  this,  though  their 
plans  were  not  yet  clearly  defined,  they  intended  to 
visit  other  islands  of  the  Atlantic,  and  then  go  to  the 
United  States.  Gregory  was  at  home  there,  and  would 
be  of  service  to  them. 

"  All  this  is  very  nice,"  said  Gregory,  after  the  land 
had  been  reported ;  "  but  it  will  be  all  up  with  me  as 
soon  as  we  get  to  Funchal.  I  shall  be  sent  on  board 
of  the  vessel  to  which  I  belong ;  and  that  will  be  the 
last  you  will  see  of  me." 

"  Nonsense  !  "  exclaimed  his  British  cousin.  "  We 
are  to  get  you  out  of  this  in  some  way." 

"  How  are  you  to  get  me  out  of   it  ?    That's  the 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  321 

question,"  replied  Gregory.  "  It  is  not  so  easy  a  thing 
as  you  seem  to  imagine." 

"I  don't  know  just  how:  I  had  not  considered  that. 
We  can't  very  well  make  the  plan  till  we  see  the  situa- 
tion." 

"  There  is  no  situation  about  it,  Phil.  After  the 
vessel  comes  to  anchor,  I  shall  be  sent  on  board  of  the 
Josephine,  and  that  will  be  the  end  of  it." 

"  Don't  croak,  Dave  ! "  protested  Sir  Philip,  with 
some  impatience  in  his  manner.  "The  health  officer 
will  have  to  see  you  and  Clinch  when  he  visits  the  ship, 
just  as  they  do  in  those  bloody  ports  up  the  Mediter- 
ranean, where  I  spent  my  last  vacation.  After  that, 
we  can  fix  things  all  right." 

"  I  don't  believe  you  can,"  added  Gregory  dubiously. 
"  If  we  wait  till  that  time,  it  will  be  all  up  with  me." 

"  Not  at  all !  I  will  tell  you  just  how  I  will  do  it 
now,  for  I  am  beginning  to  get  an  idea,"  continued  the 
Briton.  "  You  are  about  my  size,  and  don't  look  very 
unlike  me.  I  shall  pretend  I  have  an  ague,  or  a  cold 
in  the  head,  or  something  of  that  kind.  After  I  have 
said  good-by  to  the  ladies  and  others,  I  will  conceal 
myself  in  some  part  of  the  vessel.  Then  you  will  put 
on  my  mackintosh,  cap,  and  muffler.  You  will  cover 
your  face,  so  that  they  will  not  know  it  is  not  I,  and 
get  into  the  boat,  which  we  will  have  at  the  steps  of 
the  gangway  beforehand.  It  shall  be  a  shore  boat, 
and  no  one  will  know  any  thing  about  the  little  trick." 

Sir  Philip  Grayner  rubbed  his  hands  as  though  he 
was  delighted  with  the  ingenuity  of  the  plan  he  had 
devised,  and  he  thought  it  was  very  "  clever." 

"  What  will  you  do  ? "  asked  Gregory,  who  thought 
the  plan  might  work. 


322  ISLES   OF   THE    SEA  ;    OR, 

"  When  you  have  had  time  to  put  yourself  into  a  safe 
place,  I  will  show  myself.  Of  course  they  will  be  sur- 
prised to  see  me ;  and  I  shall  be  obliged  to  confess 
that  I  have  played  a  bit  of  a  Yankee  trick  upon  them." 

"Then  they  will  know  I  have  gone." 

"  No  matter  if  they  do,  after  you  are  secure  on  shore. 
But  very  likely  they  will  find  that  you  have  gone  before 
I  show  myself.  I  can  get  the  boatman  to  come  back 
to  the  ship  after  he  has  landed  you,  and  then  I  can  say 
that  I  have  come  on  board  again  after  something  I  had 
left  in  my  state-room ;  and  I  can  leave  something 
there  to  make  it  seem  all  right.  Of  course  you  will 
take  all  my  luggage  with  you  when  you  go  on  shore." 

"  Perhaps  that  will  all  work  very  well,  so  far  as  I 
am  concerned ;  but  how  about  Clinch  ?  "  asked  Gregory. 

"  Oh,  bother  about  Clinch ! "  exclaimed  the  Briton. 
"  We  don't  want  him  any  way.  He  will  spoil  the  whole 
thing ;  and  this  will  be  a  good  plan  to  get  rid  of  him." 

"  But  he  has  stood  by  me  in  all  this  business ;  and  I 
can't  desert  him,"  answered  Gregory.  "  It  would  be 
mean  for  me  to  do  that." 

"  But  Lord  Fillgrove  must  go  in  the  boat  with  you, 
and  come  back  with  the  boatman.  It  won't  look  reg- 
utar  if  he  don't,"  protested  Sir  Philip.  "I  don't  see 
any  way  to  get  Clinch  out  of  the  steamer,  unless  we 
get  him  into  the  boat  in  some  manner  before  you  and 
Fillgrove  get  in.  You  can  manage  that  better  than  I 
can ;  for  you  know  the  rules  of  your  bloody  ships,  and 
I  do  not." 

"  Shakings  overlooks  every  boat  that  comes  to  the 
steamer,  or  leaves  it.  We  couldn't  get  Clinch  into  the 
boat  any  more  than  we  could  get  the  engine  into  it," 
replied  Gregory. 


YOUNG  AMERICA   HOMEWARD   BOUND.  323 

"  Then  you  must  leave  him  on  board,  unless  you  are 
willing  to  give  up  the  journeys  we  have  planned." 

"  I  am  not  willing  to  give  them  up,  or  to  give  up 
Clinch." 

"  I'll  tell  you  what  we  can  do.  Tell  Clinch  I  have 
a  scheme  by  which  I  shall  get  him  out  of  the  ship 
after  you  and  Fillgrove  have  gone,"  suggested  the 
Briton. 

"What  is  the  scheme?"  demanded  Gregory. 

"  I  haven't  it  ready  yet ;  but  I  will  think  of  it." 

"  Then  it's  only  to  get  rid  of  him  ;  and  I  will  not 
consent  to  that,"  protested  Gregory.  But,  if  he  had 
been  entirely  candid,  he  would  have  admitted  that  he 
did  not  care  so  much  for  Clinch's  company  as  he  had 
before,  now  that  he  had  better  associates,  —  a  baronet 
and  a  viscount. 

"  I  don't  mean  to  get  rid  of  your  friend,  though  I 
don't  care  for  him.  There  are  a  dozen  means  of  get- 
ting him  out  of  the  ship ;  and  I  shall  fix  upon  one 
before  we  reach  the  harbor,"  replied  Sir  Philip.  "I 
see  it  now !  When  you  get  on  shore,  you  can  get  some 
young  fellow,  dressed  in  poor  clothes,  to  come  on  board 
with  Fillgrove ;  and  Clinch  shall  change  his  uniform 
for  that  of  the  stranger,  and  go  on  shore  in  his  place. 
That  will  work  like  a  charm  !  " 

The  Briton  was  entirely  satisfied  with  the  scheme; 
and  Gregory  was  rather  pleased  with  it,  though  he  was 
not  so  sanguine  of  its  success  as  his  cousin.  He  had 
a  talk  with  Clinch  on  the  subject ;  and  that  worthy  was 
willing  to  assent  to  any  thing  that  promised  to  release 
him  from  his  captivity,  and  save  him  from  the  degra- 
dation of  being  sent  into  the  steerage  of  the  Josephine. 


324  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

It  was  about  noon  when  the  Ville  d' Angers  dropped 
her  anchor  off  the  Loo  Rock.  The  health  officers 
promptly  presented  themselves ;  and  all  hands  were 
obliged  to  show  themselves  on  the  rail  of  the  vessel, 
to  assure  the  official  that  the  persons  named  in  the 
papers  were  well  and  hearty.  As  soon  as  this  formality 
had  been  complied  with,  the  c  iptain  ordered  out  his 
boat  to  go  on  shore  ;  for  all  the  surprise  and  consterna- 
tion at  not  finding  the  academy  squadron  in  the  harbor 
had  been  expressed  before  the  steamer  anchored. 

Plenty  of  shore-boats  were  within  hailing  distance  of 
the  gangway;  and  Gregory,  as  had  been  arranged, 
"  went  into  retirement."  The  mackintosh,  cap,  and 
other  articles  belonging  to  Sir  Philip  had  been  placed 
where  they  would  be  available  as  soon  as  the  mutineer 
needed  his  disguise.  Capt.  Fairfield  was  conducting 
his  recitations  in  the  after-part  of  the  cabin ;  and  the 
exercises  were  not  interrupted  by  the  arrival  of  the 
vessel  in  port,  as  the  watch  on  deck  was  sufficient  to 
anchor  the  steamer.  As  soon  as  the  health  examin- 
ation was  finished,  the  recitations  were  resumed.  The 
mutineers  had  not  been  asked  to  attend  to  their  studies, 
for  the  reason  that  it  would  bring  them  into  too  close 
relations  with  the  members  of  the  starboard  watch. 

"  But  the  academy  vessels  are  not  here  !  "  exclaimed 
Sir  Philip,  seeking  Gregory  in  his  retirement. 

"  So  much  the  better  !  "  ejaculated  the  malecontent. 

"But  what  will  the  captain  of  the  steamer  do?  he 
was  confident  of  finding  all  the  squadron  here,"  added 
the  Briton. 

"  I  don't  know  what  he  will  do  ;  and  he  is  not  likely 
to  take  me  into  his  confidence,"  said  Gregory. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  325 

"  The  captain  has  gone  on  shore ;  and  I  dare  say  he 
will  do  as  Prince  Frisbone  advises  him  to  do." 

"I  suppose  he  will." 

"  Then  we  will  wait  till  the  captain  returns  before  we 
do  any  thing,"  continued  Sir  Philip. 

"  Don't  do  that !  "  exclaimed  Gregory,  appalled  at 
the  suggestion.  "  What  do  you  want  to  wait  for  ?  " 

"  As  the  squadron  isn't  here,  very  likely  this  steamer 
will  go  on  to  some  other  place." 

"  Let  it  go !  I  don't  care  whither  it  goes  if  I  can 
only  get  out  of  it !  "  exclaimed  Gregory. 

"  But  I  rather  like  this  sort  of  life.  I  have  had  a 
jolly  good  time  since  I  came  on  board  of  the  Ville 
d'Angers ;  and  I  am  in  no  hurry  to  leave  her  if  she  is 
going  farther,  and  the  captain,  or  rather  Prince  Fris- 
bone, will  allow  me  to  do  so." 

"  I  don't  want  to  go  any  farther  in  her ! "  protested 
Gregory,  disgusted  with  the  proposition  of  his  cousin. 
"  I  am  a  prisoner  on  board  of  this  vessel ;  and,  if  you 
intend  to  remain  any  longer  in  her,  I  shall  get  out  of 
her  before  she  leaves  Funchal  if  I  can.  That's  the 
kind  of  a  codfish  I  am." 

"  But  if  the  Josephine  isn't  here,  they  can't  send  you 
back  to  her,  you  know,"  added  the  sprig. 

"  That's  very  true ;  but  if  she  had  been  here,  the 
captain  wouldn't  have  gone  on  shore,  and  they  would 
have  bundled  me  on  board  of  her  before  this  time," 
growled  Gregory,  utterly  dissatisfied  with  the  present 
situation  of  his  affairs.  "  Don't  you  see  that  I  can  get 
off  twice  as  well  now  that  the  captain  and  his  boat's 
crew  have  left  the  ship  ?  " 

"  Upon  my  word,  I  believe  you  are  more  than  half 
right,  Dave  !  "  exclaimed  the  Briton. 


326  ISLES    OF    THE    SEA  ;    OR, 

"  Your  plan  wouldn't  have  worked  at  all,  if  the  fleet 
had  been  in  the  harbor.  Don't  you  see  that  Fluxion 
would  have  been  alongside  the  steamer  as  soon  as  the 
health  officer  would  let  him  do  so  ?  He  would  miss  me 
at  once,  for  I  am  one  of  his  officers,  and  would  ask  for 
me.  That  would  bring  out  the  captain's  story,  and  I 
should  be  looked  up  at  once.  We  are  in  luck  as  it  is  ; 
and  I  am  in  favor  of  attending  to  the  business  at  this 
very  moment,  and  before  the  captain  gets  back." 

"  All  right !  and  to  oblige  you,  Dave,  I  will  give  up 
the  idea  of  making  a  longer  cruise  in  the  Ville  d'An- 
gers,"  replied  Sir  Philip.  "  I  will  go  on  deck,  and  hail 
a  boat." 

He  had  hardly  gone  before  Clinch  joined  Gregory. 
They  had  a  conference  in  regard  to  Clinch's  prospect 
of  getting  off  if  his  companion  succeeded ;  and  Greg- 
ory assured  him  he  was  almost  sure  that  the  plan  relat- 
ing to  his  friend  would  work  even  better  than  the  one 
for  his  own  escape.  Clinch  was  satisfied  with  this 
answer,  and  was  confident  that  his  companion  would 
stand  by  him. 

On  deck  Sir  Philip  found  only  Speers,  the  second 
officer,  and  four  seamen.  Capt.  O'Hara  had  taken 
Raymond  with  him  for  the  reason  that  the  latter  could 
speak  the  Portuguese  language.  The  engineers  were 
all  busy  with  the  machinery.  Speers  was  studying  his 
lesspns  in  the  pilot-house,  as  he  did  every  moment  of 
the  time  when  he  was  not  on  duty.  O'Hara,  "as  has 
been  stated  before,  had  spoken  of  a  new  method  of. 
making  the  promotions,  which  had  come  to  his  knowl- 
edge. The  .captain  and  the  other  officers  of  the 
steamer  were  intensely  interested  in  this  information, 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  327 

and  they  wished  to  be  prepared  for  it,  whatever  it 
proved  to  be ;  for  they  had  no  knowledge  of  the  nature 
of  the  new  method. 

O'Hara  and  Speers  had  been  studying  with  all  their 
might,  in  order  to  be  ready  for  any  thing.  What  the 
new  method  was,  the  students  had  the  privilege  of 
guessing ;  and  they  could  not  well  help  using  it.  The 
captain  thought  it  must  be  a  new  system  of  marking 
the  value  of  the  students'  work  ;  but  the  second  officer 
felt  very  confident  that  the  promotions  were  to  be  made 
by  the  results  of  a  monthly  examination.  Each  argued 
for  his  own  view,  and  each  continued  to  struggle  to  put 
himself  in  condition  for  any  thing. 

Sir  Philip  and  Lord  Fillgrove  ventured  to  interrupt 
the  studies  of  the  officer  of  the  deck  long  enough  to 
say  good-by  to  him.  Tom  shook  hands  with  them, 
responding  to  their  expressions  of  good-will,  and  then 
resumed  his  study ;  for  he  was  in  the  middle  of  a  diffi- 
cult problem  in  navigation,  and  he  did  not  wish  to  lose 
the  run  of  it. 

The  two  sprigs  bade  farewell  to  the  Prince  and  the 
ladies,  who  were  making  their  preparations  to  go  on 
shore.  They  took  leave  of  Capt.  Fairfield  and  the 
officers  of  the  starboard  watch  in  a  body,  and  then 
hastened  out  of  the  cabin.  Calling  a  boat  to  the 
gangway,  the  steward  put  their  luggage  into  it;  and 
then  Sir  Philip  hastened  below  to  carry  out  the  more 
difficult  part  of  the  programme.  All  things  worked 
perfectty,  and  he  did  not  find  it  necessary  at  present  to 
act  the  farce  of  being  sick  or  having  the  ague.  The 
day  was  quite  cool ;  and  this  was  a  good  reason  for 
putting  on  an  overcoat,  especially  as  there  was  consid- 
erable sea  in  the  harbor. 


328  ISLES    OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

"Now  we  are  all  ready!  "  exclaimed  the  Baronet,  in 
a  low  tone,  as  he  joined  his  cousin  in  the  smoking- 
room,  an  apartment  which  had  been  used  during  the 
voyage  only  by  the  Britons. 

"  Who's  on  deck  ? "  asked  Gregory  very  nervously. 

"  Mr.  Speers  is  in  the  pilot'-house  studying  his  navi- 
gation ;  and  there  are  some  seamen  about  the  deck ; 
but  all  is  working  well.  I  have  the  luggage  in  the 
boat,  and  Fillgrove  has  put  on  his  ulster  so  as  to  be  in 
keeping  with  you.  Here  is  the  mackintosh,  Dave  ;  on 
with  it,"  continued  Sir  Philip,  taking  the  coat  from  the 
peg  where  he  had  hung  it. 

Gregory  put  on  the  garment,  and  put  the  muffler 
around  his  neck,  concealing  his  face  below  the  nose. 
Sir  Philip  jammed  his  Scotch  cap  down  over  his  eyes, 
and  it  would  have  been  difficult  for  any  one  to  discover 
the  deception.  No  one  on  board  would  have  suspected 
that  the  coat  did  not  contain  a  young  baronet. 

"  Now,  here  is  a  sovereign  to  blind  the  eyes  of  the 
steward  if  he  looks  too  closely  at  you,"  continued  the 
Briton,  as  he  opened  the  door  of  the  smoking-room. 
"  Don't  stop  a  moment  till  you  are  in  the  boat." 

Gregory  left  the  room,  and  hastened  to  the  gangway, 
where  ttie  steward,  who  had  waited  on  the  sprigs  at  the 
table,  stood  by  the  side  of  the  other  passenger. 

"  You  will  be  warm  enough  in  that  coat  and  those 
mufflers,"  said  the  steward,  as  Gregory  approached  the 
steps. 

"  This  blasted  water  is  very  rough  and  cold,"  inter- 
posed Lord  Fillgrove,  turning  up  the  collar  of  his 
ulster.  "It  is  best  to  keep  the  bloody  stuff  outside  of 
you." 


YOUNG    AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  329 

"  So  it  is,  my  lord,"  replied  the  man. 

At  this  moment  Gregory  handed  the  steward  the 
money  the  baronet  had  given  him  for  the  purpose, 
though  his  companion  had  distracted  the  attention  of 
the  man. 

"  God  bless  you,  Sir  Philip  !  "  exclaimed  the  grateful 
steward,  as  he  put  the  sovereign  in  his  pocket ;  and  no 
doubt  he  wished  the  steamer  had  more  passengers  of 
the  same  sort,  for  his  lordship  had  "tipped "him  in 
the  same  amount. 

Gregory  hurried  down  the  steps  into  the  boat,  and 
seated  himself  in  the  stern-sheets.  The  Portuguese 
boatman  pushed  off,  and  in  a  moment  more  was  pulling 
his  fare  to  the  shore. 

"This  won't  do  !  "  exclaimed  Gregory,  when  the  boat 
had  gone  but  a  short  distance. 

"  What  won't  do  ?  "  asked  Lord  Fillgrove. 

"The  boatman  is  headed  towards  the  usual  landing- 
place  ;  and  the  captain's  boat  is  there,  waiting  for  him." 

"I  don't  see  that  we  can  help  ourselves,"  replied  his 
lordship. 

"  Tell  the  fellow  to  pull  us  to  some  other  place  !  " 
persisted  Gregory,  in  mortal  terror  lest  Raymond 
should  discover  him  when  he  went  on  shore. 

"  But  you  can't  land  anywhere  else ;  the  custom- 
house blackguards  will  have  to  overhaul  the  luggage, 
don't  you  know  ?  " 

There  was  no  help  for  it,  and  Gregory  had  to  submit 
to  the  course  of  events.  But  Lord  Fillgrove  volun- 
teered to  do  all  the  talking,  and  suggested  that  his 
companion  should  pretend  to  have  the  toothache,  or 
the  ague,  or'  something  of  that  sort.  The  boat  carried 


33°  ISLES    OF   THE   SEA  j    OR, 

them  to  the  usual  landing-place ;  and  the  boatman 
handed  the  baggage  out  upon  the  mole.  The  custom- 
house officers  were  very  indulgent,  and  did  not  detain 
them  beyond  a  few  moments. 

The  captain's  boat  was  lying  near  the  shore,  and 
Raymond  sat  in  the  stern  sheets.  He  could  not  help 
seeing  the  passengers ;  and  his  lordship  waved  his 
adieus ;  but  the  fourth  officer  of  the  Ville  d'Angers 
did  not  seem  to  be  satisfied  with  this  parting,  and 
ordered  the  bowman  to  pull  the  boat  in  to  the  shore. 
The  officer  landed,  and  seized  the  hand  of  Lord  Fill- 
grove. 

"I  am  sorry  you  are  going  to  leave  us,"  said  he. 

"  And  Sir  Philip  and  I  have  shed  tears  at  the  neces- 
sity of  saying  good-by  to  you,"  gushed  his  lordship. 

"  But  what  is  the  matter  with  Sir  Philip  ? "  asked 
Raymond,  wondering  that  he  was  so  distant  and  unso- 
cial, when  they  had  been  on  excellent  terms  on  board 
of  the  steamer. 

"  You  must  excuse  Sir  Philip,  for  he  is  in  terrible 
agony  with  a  toothache  which  has  just  seized  him.  He 
is  in  such  pain,  that  he  can't  open  his  mouth,"  replied 
Lord  Fillgrove. 

With  one  hand  on  his  jaw,  Gregory  extended  the 
other  to  Raymond,  who  warmly  pressed  it. 

"  I  am  sorry  you  are  in  such  pain,  Sir  Philip ;  but  I 
know  what  the  toothache  is,  and  I  will  not  detain  you 
a  moment,"  added  Raymond,  shaking  the  hand  he  held 
again. 

Gregory  "hastened  away,  holding  on  to  his  jaw,  and 
groaning  audibly  to. heighten  the  deception ;  and,  though 
Raymond  had  the  credit  of  being  a  sharp  officer,  he 


YOUNG   AMERICA   HOMEWARD    BOUND.  331 

did  not  suspect  any  thing  wrong  about  the  passengers. 
His  lordship  called  a  porter  (or,  rather,  he  selected 
one  from  a  dozen  who  had  called  themselves),  and 
directed  the  luggage  to  be  carried  to  the  principal 
hotel.  In  a  few  moments  he  overtook  his  companion, 
who  had  turned  down  the  collar  of  his  mackintosh,  for 
he  had  suddenly  recovered  from  his  toothache,  and 
seemed  to  be  in  good  spirits  for  one  who  had  been 
such  a  recent  sufferer. 

"  That  was  cleverly  done,"  chuckled  his  lordship,  as 
they  followed  the  porter  to  the  hotel. 

"  Nothing  could  have  been  better  done  ;  no  Yankee 
could  have  managed  it  more  neatly,"  replied  Gregory. 

"  No,  I  should  say  not !  If  that  was  a  Yankee  trick, 
we  Britishers  can  play  a  good  game  at  it,"  said  Lord 
Fillgrove,  laughing. 

A  short  walk  brought  them  to  the  hotel,  and  they 
were  assigned  a  room.  As  soon  as  the  baggage  had 
been  brought  in,  they  locked  the  door. 

"  Now  what  am  I  to  do  ?  "  asked  Gregory.  "  I  am 
sure  to  be  bagged  if  I  stay  here.  As  soon  as  I  am 
missed,  O'Hara  will  be  after  me  with  a  sharp  stick  ;  or, 
more  likely,  he  will  send  that  bear  of  a  Prince  Frisbone 
to  look  me  up." 

"  You  mustn't  stay  in  the  town  an  hour  ! "  exclaimed 
his  lordship.  "Have  you  any  money  to  pay  your 
expenses  ? " 

"  I  have  plenty  of  sovereigns,"  answered  Gregory. 

"Those  are  the  best  money  to  have  anywhere  on 
Portuguese  territory.  Find  a  horse,  and  ride  till  you 
come  to  some  town  or  village ;  and  don't  let  the  grass 
grow  under  your  feet." 


332  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA;    OR, 

A  couple  of  ponies  were  soon  found,  and  a  guide  was 
engaged  who  spoke  English.  Thus  prepared,  Gregory 
hastened  off.  Lord  Fillgrove  returned  to  the  mole, 
where  he  obtained  a  boat,  and  was  pulled  off  to  the 
ship.  He  had  picked  up  a  porter  on  his  way,  and  had 
already  given  a  liberal  fee  to  both  him  and  the  boat- 
man. He  saw  that  the  captain's  boat  was  still  lying 
at  the  mole  ;  but  he  gave  it  a  wide  berth  this  time,  for 
he  had  no  "  blackguards  of  custom-house  officers  "  to 
bother  him.  His  lordship  had  brought  back  the  mack- 
intosh and  other  clothing  of  his  fellow-passenger.  Sir 
Philip  put  them  on.  He  had  Clinch  in  the  smoking- 
room  with  him,  and  in  a  few  moments  the  porter  and 
the  mutineer  had  exchanged  garments.  Sir  Philip 
brought  a  carpet-bag  he  had  left  in  his  state-room,  and 
Clinch  was  required  to  carry  it  to  the  gangway. 

For  some  reason  or  other,  Speers  was  on  the  poop- 
deck. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  333 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

A   HASTY   RUN   TO   THE   CAPE   VERDS. 

POSSIBLY  Tom  Speers  had  finished  his  difficult 
problem  in  navigation,  and  was  making  his  rounds 
of  the  deck  of  the  ship ;  or  possibly  the  coming  of  the 
shore-boat  had  been  reported  to  him  by  the  lookout, 
and  he  wished  to  assure  himself  that  every  thing  about 
the  steamer  was  all  right :  at  any  rate,  the  officer  of 
the  deck  was  there,  just  where  the  sprigs  did  not  wish 
him  to  be. 

"Ah,  Sir  Philip,  I  thought  you  had  gone  on  shore 
some  time  ago,"  said  Tom,  as  blandly  as  though  there 
was  no  mischief  in  him. 

"  So  I  did  go  on  shore,  Mr.  Speers ;  but  I  forgot 
this  bloody  carpet-bag,  and  I  came  back  after  it,"  re- 
plied the  baronet,  pointing  to  the  piece  of  baggage  in 
the  hand  of  the  assumed  porter. 

Speers  looked  at  the  bag,  and  then  into  the  face  of 
the  porter,  though  Clinch  turned  away,  and  tried  to 
avoid  his  gaze. 

"  Really,  Mr.  Clinch,  I  don't  think  you  look  so  well 
in  that  dress  as  you  do  in  your  regular  uniform,"  said 
Speers,  with  a  pleasant  smile. 

At  the  same  time  he  placed  himself  between  the 


334  ISLES    OF    THE    SEA  j    OR, 

intended  fugitive  and  the  gangway.  He  looked  as  mild 
as  one  of  the  chaplain's  lambs  ;  and  the  Britons  evi- 
dently did  not  regard  his  opposition  as  very  serious. 

"  I  will  thank  you  to  step  out  of  the  way,  Mr.  Speers, 
and  allow  his  lordship  and  myself  to  get  into  the  boat," 
said  Sir  Philip,  rather  brusquely. 

"  Certainly,  Sir  Philip ;  I  have  not  the  slightest 
objection  to  your  getting  into  the  boat,"  replied  Tom, 
stepping  aside  so  that  the  baronet  could  pass,  but  still 
remaining  between  Clinch  and  the  steps. 

"  And  that  porter  must  carry  my  bag  into  the  boat, 
and  take  it  up  to  the  hotel  when  he  gets  ashore,"  con- 
tinued Sir  Philip  haughtily. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  Sir  Philip ;  but  the  captain's 
order  is,  that  no  one  belonging  to  the  steamer  shall  be 
allowed  to  go  on  shore,"  interposed  the  officer  of  the 
deck. 

"  Into  the  boat  with  you,  porter  ! "  cried  the  baronet, 
who  was  disposed  to  carry  his  point,  though  he  was 
entirely  willing  to  part  company  with  Clinch,  whom  he 
regarded  as  an  undesirable  companion  for  the  proposed 
lark. 

Clinch  saw  that  his  last  chance  was  to  make  a  rush 
into  the  boat,  in  which  Lord  Fillgrove  had  already 
seated  himself.  He  made  a  desperate  push  to  get  by 
Tom  Speers ;  but  the  officer  promptly  grabbed  him  by 
the  collar,  and  crowded  him  back  from  the  rail. 

"Let  go  of  him,  or  I'll  break  your  bloody  head  !  " 
exclaimed  Sir  Philip. 

"  I  should  be  sorry  to  strike  a  baronet ;  but,  if  you 
do,  there  will  be  two  bloody  and  broken  heads  in  this 
vicinity,"  answered  Tom  quietly.  "  Mr.  Clinch  is  an 
officer  of  the  steamer,  and  he  cannot  leave  her." 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  335 

"  But  he  shall  leave  her  ! "  protested  Sir  Philip,  blus- 
tering up  to  the  officer  of  the  deck. 

"  I  think  not.  —  Winchell,  pass  the  word  for  Mr. 
Shakings,"  added  Tom,  addressing  one  of  the  watch 
who  had  come  up  to  see  what  the  matter  was. 

"  Pass  the  word  for  Mr.  Shakings  !  "  called  Winchell, 
hailing  the  other  seamen  of  the  watch  on  the  fore- 
castle. 

"  Now's  your  time,  Clinch ! "  shouted  Sir  Philip. 
"Into  the  boat  with  you  before  the  big  boatswain 
comes !  " 

Clinch  threw  the  carpet-bag  upon  the  rail,  and  rushed 
upon  Speers,  intent  upon  crowding  him  out  of  the  way. 
But  Tom  was  stout,  resolute,  and  self-possessed  ;  and 
he  easily  flung  his  adversary  back.  But  the  Briton  on 
the  deck  was  excited ;  and  he  went  in  to  assist  the 
porter.  He  struck  Speers  a  heavy  blow  in  the  face, 
while  he  was  engaged  with  Clinch ;  but,  as  soon  as  the 
mutineer  was  disposed  of,  Tom  turned  his  attention  to 
the  sprig;  and,  with  a  well-directed  hit  on  the  nose, 
sent  him  over  backwards,  with  his  prominent  facial 
organ  bathed  in  gore.  The  victory  was  certainly  with 
Tom  Speers  so  far.  But  Clinch  had  picked  himself  up 
during  this  diversion,  and  was  about  to  leap  on  the 
rail,  when  Shakings  grabbed  him  by  the  collar. 

"  So  you  have  got  a  new  uniform,  my  beauty  ! "  ex- 
claimed the  big  boatswain,  .as  he  slung  his  prisoner 
back  like  a  basket  of  brea'd. 

Sir  Philip  picked  himself  up  ;  and  he  was  the  mad- 
dest baronet  on  the  face  of  the  Western  Continent. 
He  wanted  to  fight  for  revenge  now  rather  than  for 
the  possession  of  Clinch.  He  was  making  a  rush  at 


336  ISLES    OF   THE    SEA  ;    OR, 

Tom  Speers,  who  stood  ready  for  him,  when  Mr.  Rim- 
mer,  attracted  by  the  scuffle,  came  aft  as  fast  as  his 
slow-moulded  nature  would  permit. 

"  Hold  this  fellow,  Rimmer,"  said  Shakings,  handing 
Clinch  over  to  him.  "  I  never  whacked  a  baronet  yet ; 
but  now  is  my  chance  !  " 

Speers  had  warded  off  the  blow  of  Sir  Philip,  and 
put  his  left  eye  in  mourning,  when  the  big  boatswain 
seized  the  baronet  by  the  collar,  and  tipped  him  over 
upon  the  deck.  The  sprig  struggled  with  all  his  might  j 
and  the  boatswain  kept  flopping  him  over  and  over  on 
the  planks,  as  one  deals  with  an  unruly  fish  he  has 
pulled  out  of  the  water.  In  a  few  moments  the  baro- 
net had  had  enough  of  this  harsh  treatment,  and  he 
refrained  from  further  struggles. 

"  Shall  I  lock  him  up  in  a  state-room,  Mr.  Speers  ? " 
asked  Shakings,  as  he  held  his  prisoner  at  arm's  length. 

"  Lock  me  up  in  a  state-room  !  "  exclaimed  Sir  Philip, 
gasping  for  breath,  after  his  violent  struggle.  "  I  am  a 
British  subject !  " 

"  But  British  subjects  must  behave  themselves  on 
board  of  this  vessel,  as  well  as  others,"  replied  Shak- 
ings, laughing  at  the  bluster  of  the  baronet. 

"  Hallo  !  what's  all  this  about  ? "  called  the  Prince, 
coming  out  of  the  cabin,  where  he  had  been  disturbed 
by  the  noise  of  the  struggle. 

Tom  Speers  pointed  to  Clinch,  in  his  Portuguese 
dress,  and  explained  the  cause  of  the  trouble. 

"  You  haven't  behaved  yourself  as  a  barinet  should," 
said  the  Prince.  "  If  you  want  to  interfere  with  the 
discipline  of  this  vessel,  you  won't  feel  at  home  here. 
—  What  do  you  wish  to  do  with  him,  Mr.  Speers  ? " 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  337 

'•  I  don't  wish  to  do  any  thing  with  him  ;  and  I  haven't 
objected  to  his. getting  into  the  boat,"  replied  Speers. 
"  He  pitched  into  me  because  I  would  not  let  Clinch 
leave  the  vessel ;  and  I  have  simply  defended  myself, 
though  it  has  cost  him  a  black  eye  and  a  bloody  nose. 
Put  him  into  his  boat,  Mr.  Shakings." 

The  baronet  wiped  his  bleeding  member  ;  and,  while 
he  was  doing  so,  Shakings  hoisted  him  upon  the  rail, 
and  gave  him  a  smart  shove  down  the  steps.  Sir  Philip 
saw  that  he  was  making  nothing  by  prolonging  the 
conflict ;  and  now,  if  not  before,  he  realized  that  he  was 
fighting  for  one  whom  he  desired  to  get  rid  of.  He 
had  done  all  he  could  to  gratify  his  cousin's  sense  of 
honor,  and  he  went  down  into  the  boat.  The  boatman 
shoved  off,  and  pulled  for  the  shore. 

"  Where  is  Mr.  Gregory  ? "  asked  Speers,  when  the 
boat  had  gone  ;  for  he  thought  it  a  little  strange  that 
the  other  mutineer  was  not  in  the  scrape. 

Search  for  Gregory  was  made  ;  and  of  course  nothing 
was  found  of  him,  for  at  this  time  he  was. galloping 
away  from  Funchal.  But  in  the  smoking-room,  the 
Portuguese  porter  was  found,  dressed  up  in  Clinch's 
uniform.  Shakings  could  not  help  laughing  at  the  fig- 
ure the  swarthy  fellow  cut  in  his  blue  frock,  or  at  the 
appearance  of  Clinch  in  the  garments  of  the  Portuguese. 
Speers  ordered  them  to  exchange  garments ;  and  di- 
rected the  boatswain  to  lock  the  officer  into  his  state- 
room till  the  captain  returned. 

It  was  evident  that  Gregory  had  escaped  from  the 
steamer  ;  and,  by  comparing  notes,  it  was  made  plain 
enough  that  he  had  gone  off  in  the  mackintosh  and  cap 
of  the  baronet.  The  officer  of  the  deck  called  a  shore- 


338  ISLES   OF  THE   SEA;    OR, 

boat,  and  sent  one  of  the  stewards  with  a  note  for  the 
captain  to  the  mole  where  Raymond  was  waiting  for 
him.  It  contained  a  brief  account  of  what  had  hap- 
pened on  board  during  his  absence. 

O'Hara  was  very  unwilling  to  leave  the  harbor  with- 
out the  fugitive ;  and  he  stated  his  case  to  the  consul, 
who  promised  to  have  him  arrested  as  a  runaway  sailor. 

O'Hara  had  only  ascertained  that  the  squadron  had 
sailed  for  Santa  Cruz  de  Teneriffe  six  days  before. 
He  had  no  doubt  the  fleet  was  there  then ;  and  he  ex- 
amined the  chart.  Satisfied  with  the  promise  of  the 
consul  to  arrest  and  hold  the  escaped  prisoner,  he 
decided,  after  consulting  the  adults  on  board,  to  sail 
for  the  Canaries.  Mr.  Frisbone  concluded  to  remain  on 
board,  with  his  wife  and  her  sister;  for  they  had  all 
become  in  a  measure  accustomed  to  the  sea,  and  Miss 
Louise  had  wonderfully  improved  in  health. 

O'Hara  was  very  confident  that  he  should  find  the 
fleet  at  Santa  Cruz ;  but  great  was  his  astonishment 
when  he  arrived,  to  find  it  was  not  there.  He  ordered 
out  the  second  cutter ;  and,  taking  Raymond  with  him 
to  talk  Spanish  for  him,  he  went  on  shore.  He  in- 
quired at  the  custom  -  house,  and  learned  that  the 
squadron,  with  the  Marian,  had  sailed  for  Palmas,  in 
the  Grand  Canary.  As  at  Funchal,  the  principal  had 
kept  his  own  counsel,  and  no  further  information  could 
be  obtained.  This  was  the  first  time  he  heard  that 
the  steam-yacht  of  Judge  Rodwood  was  with  the  squad- 
ron. 

"  Tom,  my  boy,  the  judge  is  after  you,"  said  O'Hara 
when  he  returned  to  the  ship.  "He  came  here  with 
the  squadron,  in  the  Marian ;  and  she  seems  to  be  a 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  339 

part  of  the  fleet,  for  she  sailed  with  the  other  vessels 
for  the  Grand  Canary." 

"Then  perhaps  my  cruise  in  the  Tritonia  is  nearly 
up,"  replied  Tom,  rather  sadly. 

"  Faix,  I  don't  know  that  we  shall  ever  find  that  same 
fleet!"  exclaimed  Capt.  O'Hara.  "It  seems  to  be 
dodging  us,  wherever  we  go." 

"  I  am  in  no  great  hurry  to  find  it,"  added  Tom,  with 
a  smile,  as  he  turned  to  his  books,  which  were  his  con- 
stant companions  when  he  was  not  on  duty,  and  some- 
times when  he  was. 

"  Well,  what's  to  be  done  ? "  asked  the  Prince,  as 
O'Hara  reported  to  him  the  latest  news. 

"  I  suppose  we  can  do  nothing  but  follow  the  fleet ; 
and,  if  it  holds  still  long  enough,  I  have  no  doubt  we 
shall  find  it  after  a  while,"  answered  O'Hara. 

"But  I  didn't  cal'late  to  go  any  further  than  Me- 
day-ry.  I  am  over  here  now  to  build  up  the  health  of 
Louise ;  and  here  we  are  trapsing  all  over  the  ocean 
with  you  boys,"  added  Mr.  Frisbone,  laughing. 

"  Upon  my  sowl,  the  young  lady  is  growing  prettier 
and  prettier  every  day  she  lives !  "  exclaimed  the  gal- 
lant captain.  "  I  think  you  are  doing  the  right  thing 
now  for  her  health." 

"  Well,  I  don't  know  but  we  are ;  for  sartainly  she  is 
gaining  every  day ;  and  her  appetite  is  as  good  as  one 
of  the  hands  before  the  mast." 

"  I  should  be  sorry  to  have  you  leave  us,  Prince 
Frisbone ;  for  you  have  kept  my  back  as  stiff  as  the 
mainmast  of  the  ship,"  said  O'Hara,  who  was  really 
very  much  attached  to  the  eccentric  passenger,  as  well 
as  to  the  ladies  of  his  party. 


34°  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA;    OR, 

"I  should  be  sorry  to  leave  before  you  find  the 
squadron ;  but  you  may  chase  it  clean  across  the  ocean 
to  America." 

"  Then  stay  with  us,  darling ;  for  I  may  be  sent  in 
the  steamer  to  bring  you  back  to  whatever  port  you 
want  to  go,"  replied  O'Hara,  laughing.  "Though  I 
am  doing  my  best  to  find  the  fleet,  I  like  the  position 
I  hold  now  very  well  indeed ;  and  it  will  be  a  sorry 
day  when  I  have  to  give  it  up." 

"  But  you  ought  to  see  sunthin  or  other  of  these 
islands  we  go  to ;  and  I  know  my  women-folks  would 
like  to  stretch  themselves  on  shore,"  added  the  Prince. 

"  I  shouldn't  dare  to  stop  a  day  anywhere  till  I  find 
the  squadron,"  said  the  captain,  shaking  his  head,  and 
looking  very  serious. 

"  But  perhaps  you  are  running  away  from  it  all  the 
time,"  suggested  the  Prince. 

Capt.  Fairfield  and  Mr.  Shakings  were  called ;  and 
they  took  the  same  view  as  the  Prince.  The  fleet 
had  gone  to  the  southward ;  and  very  likely  it  would 
return  in  a  few  days.  This  consideration  induced 
O'Hara  to  decide  upon  a  stay  of  a  couple  of  days ;  and 
all  hands,  except  Clinch,  were  allowed  to  go  on  shore. 
On  the  3oth  of  the  month,  as  the  fleet  did  not  appear, 
the  Ville  d'Angers  sailed  for  Palmas.  She  arrived  the 
same  day ;  and  the  captain  learned  that  the  squadron 
had  gone  to  Orotava.  After  having  a  look  at  this  city, 
Mr.  Frisbone  decided  to  take  his  wife's  sister  there  in 
the  fall,  and  remain  all  winter. 

From  this  port  the  fleet  had  sailed  for  Santa  Cruz 
de  Palma ;  and  the  steamer  followed  her  after  spend- 
ing a  day  at  Orotava.  On  her  arrival,  the  captain 


YOUNG    AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  341 

learned  that  the  fleet  had  departed.  As  none  of  the 
vessels  were  commercial  craft,  it  did  not  appear  that 
they  had  entered  at  the  custom-house.  As  they  came 
from  another  port  in  the  Canary  Islands,  they  had 
simply  anchored,  and  the  students  went  on  shore  to  see 
the  town,  and  what  they  could  of  the  island,  in  a  few 
hours.  But  where  had  the  fleet  gone  now?  for  what 
port  had  it  sailed  ?  The  custom-house  officials  knew 
nothing  about  the  destination  of  the  squadron.  O'- 
Hara  and  Raymond  wandered  about  the  town  in 
search  of  information.  Where  was  the  pilot  ?  there 
was  no  harbor  to  enter,  and  they  had  taken  no  pilot. 

"  We  don't  get  ahead  any,"  said  O'Hara,  after  they 
had  continued  the  search  for  some  time. 

"  Don't  you  know  what  the  principal's  programme 
for  the  voyage  among  the  Isles  of  the  Sea  is  ? "  inquired 
Raymond. 

"  I  don't  know :  he  never  gave  me  a  copy  of  it." 

"  I  have  heard  it  said  that  the  squadron  was  to  go 
to  the  Cape  Verd  Islands  after  Madeira,  and  then  to  the 
Azores." 

"I  have  heard  that  same,"  added  O'Hara.  "But 
don't  Capt.  Fairfield  know  any  thing  about  it  ? " 

As  Capt.  Fairfield  was  on  shore  with  the  rest  of  the 
ship's  company,  he  was  able  to  speak  for  himself.  He 
confirmed  the  impression  of  the  captain  and  the  fourth 
officer,  that  the  squadron  was  to  go  to  the  Cape  Verds. 
But  he  did  not  believe  that  it  had  been  definitely 
settled  where  the  vessels  were  to  go ;  and  whether  or 
not  they  visited  certain  islands,  was  to  depend  upon 
circumstances.  The  West  Indies  had  been  given  up 
on  account  of  the  lateness  of  the  season.  While  Capt. 


342  ISLES    OF   THE    SEA;    OR, 

O'Hara  was  talking  to  the  instructor  about  the  matter, 
a  custom-house  official  spoke  to  Raymond. 

"  I  am  told  that  you  wish  to  know  for  what  p&rt  the 
two  steamers  and  the  two  schooners  that  were  here 
three  days  ago  were  bound  when  they  left,"  said  the 
officer. 

"  Yes,  sir :  we  desire  to  know  very  much,"  replied 
Raymond.  "  Can  you  give  us  any  information  ? " 

"  I  can't  say  that  I  have  any  official  knowledge ;  but 
I  heard  one  of  the  gentlemen  from  the  smaller  steamer 
say  they  were  bound  for  Porto  Praya,  in  the  Cape 
Verds." 

This  intelligence  seemed  to  settle  the  matter.  It 
was  generally  understood  among  the  students,  that  the 
cruise  was  to  include  these  islands ;  and  the  statement 
of  the  custom-house  official  confirmed  it.  The  officer 
spoke  with  Raymond  in  Spanish;  but  if  he  had  heard 
him  speak  English,  or  try  to  do  so,  he  would  have  been 
satisfied  the  islander  was  not  a  reliable  person  to  report 
an  English  conversation. 

"  If  we  are  to  follow  up  the  fleet,  we  may  as  well  go 
to  Porto  Praya,"  said  O'Hara,  when  all  hands  had  re- 
turned to  the  ship  after  their  visit  to  the  town. 

"  I  do  not  see  that  we  can  do  any  other  way,"  replied 
Tom  Speers,  to  whom  the  remark  was  addressed.  "  If 
the  fleet  has  been  to  these  islands,  it  will  not  be  likely 
to  come  here  again." 

"That  it  will  not;  and  we  will  sail  for  the  Cape 
Verds  at  once." 

Just  before  dark  the  Ville  d'Angers  went  out  of  the 
port,  and  directed  her  head  to  the  south-south-west 
Shakings  knew  all  about  these  islands ;  for  he  had  been 


YOUNG   AMERICA   HOMEWARD    BOUND.  343 

in  a  man-of-war  on  this  station,  and  the  port  most  used 
by  the  African  squadron  was  Porto  -Praya.  The  weather 
was  delightful,  and  the  steamer  made  a  quick  run  in  a 
little  over  three  days.  The  last  was  spent  in  sight  of 
the  more  eastern  of  the  ten  islands  forming  the  group. 
Capt.  Fairfield  encouraged  the  students  to  study  up  the 
geography  and  history  of  the  Cape  Verds,  in  the  ab- 
sence of  Mr.  Mapps. 

Like  some  of  the  other  islands  they  had  seen,  their 
appearance  from  the  ship  was  that  of  barren  wastes  of 
rock  and  lava.  Off  Porto  Praya  a  pilot  was  obtained  ; 
for  the  port  has  one  of  the  best  harbors  to  be  found 
among  the  Isles  of  the  Sea,  though  a  heavy  sea  some- 
times breaks  in  on  the  shore,  which  renders  it  almost 
impossible  to  land.  It  was  necessary  to  coal  the 
steamer  here,  and  while  the  work  was  in  progress  the 
students  were  allowed  to  go  on  shore.  They  found 
much  to  interest  them  here,  for  some  things  were  dif- 
ferent from  what  they  had  seen  in  any  of  the  other 
islands.  They  took  a  strol-l  out  of  the  town,  and  fol- 
lowed a  grassy  valley  for  a  couple  of  miles.  Nineteen 
out  of  every  twenty  persons  they  met  in  the  town  and 
in  the  country  were  negroes  ;  and  they  were  very  lazy 
and  indolent.  They  saw  plenty  of  goats,  monkeys,  and 
parrots  in  their  walk  when  they  went  out  of  the  trav- 
elled road.  Diminutive  donkeys  were  the  only  domes- 
tic animals.  There  is  scarcely  any  thing  that  can  be 
called  a  tree,  except  the  baobab-tree,  which  is  only 
twelve  or  fifteen  feet  high,  but  is  some  twenty  feet  in 
diameter,  while  its  thick  head  of  branches  is  nearly  fifty 
feet  through.  The  fruit  is  called  "monkey-bread." 
Sugar,  cotton,  tobacco,  rice,  and  goat-skins  are  among 
the  principal  productions. 


344  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

Santiago  is  the  largest  and  most  important  of  these 
islands.  It  is  about,  thirty  miles  long,  and  half  as  wide. 
It  has  a  population  of  ten  thousand,  the  greater  part 
of  which  is  in  Porto  Praya.  This  town  is  the  capital  of 
the  islands;  but  it  is  a  poorly  built  place,  on  a  hill. 
The  students  were  not  disposed  to  spend  much  of  their 
time  on  shore  here.  It  was  a  vastly  different  region 
from  the  sunny  Canaries;  and  they  were  not  sorry  to 
leave  it.. 

The  fleet  was  not  here.  Nothing  had  been  heard 
from  it.  It  was  evident  enough,  after  a  full  inquiry, 
that  the  squadron  had  not  been  to  the  Cape  Verds. 
With  the  bunkers  filled  with  coal,  the  Ville  d'Angers 
sailed  to  the  north-west,  with  the  intention  of  looking 
into  the  coaling-station  on  the  island  of  St.  Vincent. 
A  run  of  half  a  day  brought  them  between  this  island 
and  St.  Antonio,  so  that  they  could  look  into  the  bay. 
No  fleet  was  there ;  but  the  lofty  peak  of  San  Antonio, 
nearly  ten  thousand  feet  high,  was  to  be  seen  on  the 
island  of  this  name. 

"We  shall  never  find  that  "fleet,"  said  O'Hara,  when 
the  ship  was  out  in  the  open  sea,  but  with  the  lofty 
mountain  still  frowning  down  upon  her. 

"  I  doubt  if  we  ever  do,"  replied  Tom  Speers. 

"  I  don't  know  where  to  go  next  in  search  of  that 
same  fleet,"  continued  O'Hara.  "  I  think  we  must 
hold  another  council  of  war.  Will  you  oblige  me, 
Tom,  darlint,  by  asking  Prince  Frisbone,  Capt.  Fair- 
field,  and  Mr.  Shakings  to  step  into  the  pilot-house  ? " 

In  a  few  minutes  the  council  had  assembled,  and 
Capt.  O'Hara  conducted  them  into  the  chart-room 
adjoining.  The  large-scale  charts,  which  had  been 


YOUNG  AMERICA  HOMEWARD  BOUND.      345 

procured  at  Funchal  and  elsewhere,  of  the  Cape  Verds, 
had  been  put  away  ;  and  the  "  North  Atlantic  "  lay  on 
the  table  spread  out  for  use. 

"  I  haven't  the  slightest  doubt  now  that  the  fleet 
went  from  Funchal  to  the  Western  Islands,"  said  Capt. 
O'Hara,  when  the  adults  had  assembled. 

"  I  think  we  may  be  sartain  of  that  now,"  added  the 
Prince. 

"  But  the  squadron  sailed  from  Funchal  on  the  2ist 
of  last  month  ;  and  to-day  is  the  8th  of  this  month,  — 
nearly  three  weeks  ago.  Where  it  is,  is  the  conundrum 
we  have  to  guess  at  the  prisint  moment" 

"  If  the  fleet  went  to  the  Western  Islands  on  the 
2ist  of  last  month,  it  hasn't  staid  there  all  this  time, 
I'll  warrant,"  said  Mr.  Shakings. 

"  The  next  isles  of  the  sea  the  squadron  will  visit 
after  the  Azores  will  be  the  Bermudas,  I  know,"  con- 
tinued the  captain,  as  he  took  up  a  pencil,  and  began 
to  figure  on  a  bit  of  paper. 

"  Then  all  we  have  to  do  is  to  run  for  the  Bermudas. 
How  far  off  are  they  ? "  asked  the  Prince. 

"  I  have  not  worked  up  the  distance  on  a  great  cir- 
cle ;  but  I  should  say  the  distance  was  about  two  thou- 
sand miles." 

"  Whew  !  "  whistled  the  Prince.  "  That  is  a  long 
distance." 

"  It  is  an  eight-days'  run  for  the  Ville  d'Angers." 

"  But  the  fleet  may  be  waiting  for  us  at  the  Western 
Islands,"  suggested  Capt.  Fairfield. 

"That's  true  for  you,"  replied  O'Hara.  "It  may 
have  gone  back  to  Funchal  to  look  for  us." 

"  And  we  are  in  a  bad  box,"  laughed  the  Prince. 


346  ISLES    OF   THE    SEA  ;    OR, 

"  If  we  run  for  the  Bermudas,  the  fleet  may  be  looking 
for  us  at  Funchal,  the  Canary,  or  the  Western  Islands. 
If  we  go  back  to  these  islands,  they  may  go  on  to  Ber- 
mudas, and  be  waiting  for  us  there." 

"  Whichever  course  we  take,  very  likely  we  shall  be 
sorry  we  didn't  take  the  other,"  added  O'Hara.  "  It 
will  require  four  days  to  go  to  Funchal,  eight  to  Fayal, 
and  seven  more  to  Bermudas,  making  allowance  for 
stops.  What  do  you  say,  gentlemen  ? " 

"  I  vote  for  Bermudas  direct,"  said  the  Prince. 

"  So  do  I,"  added  Shakings. 

"  Via  Funchal,"  Capt.  Fan-field'  folio  wed. 

"  Via  Funchal  is  my  judgment,"  wound  up  the  cap- 
tain. 

"  Funchal  it  is,  then.  You  are  the  captain,"  contin- 
ued the  Prince. 

After  looking  the  matter  over  again,  Prince  Frisbone 
changed  his  opinion  ;  and  even  Shakings  admitted  that 
it  would  be  safer  to  go  to  Funchal.  Capt.  O'Hara 
gave  out  the  course  accordingly.  But  it  was  agreed  by 
all,  that  it  was  useless  to  put  in  at  the  Canaries ;  and 
the  ship  was  headed  direct  for  her  port  in  the  Madei- 
ras. In  four  days  she  arrived  at  Funchal.  O'Hara 
and  Raymond  hastened  on  shore.  They  went  to  the 
consul's  office  first.  The  American  Prince  and  the 
Marian  had  been  there  the  day  before,  and  had  sailed 
for  Fayal  again.  The  principal  had  left  a  letter  for 
the  captain  of  the  Ville  d' Angers.  O'Hara  took  it, 
and  eagerly  broke  the  seal.  The  missive  simply  in- 
structed him  to  run  for  Fayal,  if  Mr.  Frisbone  did  not 
object ;  and,  if  the  fleet  were  not  there,  to  remain  as 
long  as  was  necessary  for  the  students  to  see  the  island, 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  347 

and  then,  if  the  fleet  had  departed,  to  sail  for  the  Ber- 
mudas, making  a  harbor  at  St.  George's.  Mr.  Lowing- 
ton  stated  that  the  Ville  d'Angers  had  been  reported  at 
Santa  Cruz  de  Teneriffe,  and  that  he  had  ceased  to  be 
anxious  for  the  safety  of  the  absentees. 

All  this  was  very  satisfactory  to  the  captain  of  the 
steamer.  He  asked  the  consul  for  his  prisoner ;  but 
this  gentleman  stated  that  Mr.  Lowington  had  settled 
the  case.  As  soon  as  possible,  the  Ville  d'Angers  was 
on  her  way  to  the  Western  Islands.  The  fleet  had 
gone.  After  a  day  at  Horta,  the  steamer  followed,  and 
reached  St.  George  on  the  23d.  No  fleet  was  there. 


348  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  j    OR, 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

THE   LAST   OF   THE   ISLES   OF   THE   SEA. 

"~*\ON'T  you  believe  those  youngsters  have  gone 

I  J  off  on  a  lark,  Mr.  Lowington  ?  "  asked  Judge 
Rodwood,  after  they  had  gone  on  shore  at  Funchal, 
on  their  arrival  from  Fayal  in  search  of  the  missing 
steamer. 

"  I  do  not  think  so  now,  though  such  was  my  fear  in 
the  first  of  it,"  replied  the  principal. 

They  had  been  to  the  banker's,  and  ascertained  all 
they  could  about  the  Ville  d' Angers  ;  and  were  now  on 
their  way  to  the  office  of  the  consul. 

"I  think  it  must  be  a  great  temptation  to  such 
young  fellows  as  this  O'Hara  and  Tom  Speers,"  added 
the  judge.  "  You  say  that  the  captain  of  the  steamer 
has  the  absolute  command  of  her." 

"  He  has  in  the  absence  of  any  vice-principal ;  for 
it  does  not  answer  to  place  a  landsman  over  a  sailor  at 
sea,"  replied  Mr.  Lowington.  "But  for  all  this,  Cnpt. 
Fairfield,  the  instructor  on  board,  would  have  influence 
enough  to  prevent  the  students  from  going  off  on  a 
runaway  excursion." 

"  Frisbone  would  prevent  it,  if  the  instructor  could 
not ;  for  he  is  a  very  decided  man,  and,  if  any  thing  is 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  349 

wrong,  he  does  not  mind  cutting  through  any  amount 
of  red  tape." 

"  As  a  rule,  we  have  a  stonger  hold  on  these  young 
men  than  mere  force,"  continued  Mr.  Lowington. 
"  Take  your  ward,  for  instance  :  he  is  ambitious  to 
obtain  promotion  ;  and  any  thing  in  the  shape  of  a 
lark  would  spoil  all  his  chances.  He  was  so  interested 
in  his  future  prospects  in  the  Tritonia,  that  he  has  been 
running  away  from  the  vast  fortune  in  store  for  him ; 
and  certainly  he  would  not  peril  all  his  hopes  by  enga- 
ging in  a  runaway  expedition." 

"  But  he  is  under  the  orders  of  this  O'Hara." 

"  And  O'Hara  is  controlled  by  the  same  motives. 
My  banker  has  inquired  into  the  condition  of  the 
steamer,  and  ascertained  that  every  thing  was  regular 
on  board  of  her.  The  boat  that  brought  the  captain 
on  shore  lay  at  the  landing-place  two  or  three  hours ; 
and  I  am  told  that  not  a  seaman  got  out  of  it.  That 
looks  like  discipline,  which  would  not  prevail  if  the 
officers  and  crew  were  on  a  lark." 

"  No  doubt  you  are  correct,  Mr.  Lowington.  But  it 
seems  very  strange  to  me,  that  my  ward  should  prefer 
the  strict  discipline  of  one  of  your  vessels  Tto  the 
freedom  which  I  came  out  here  to  give  him;  and  I 
confess  that  I  consider  him  ten  times  the  man  I  sup- 
posed him  to  be  when  I  left  New  York,"  said  Judge 
Rodwood.  "As  I  said  before,  the  Marian  belonged  to 
Mr.  Speers,  senior,  and  I  intended  to  turn  her  over  to 
my  ward.  You  see,  the  young  fellow  will  have  an 
income  of  over  two  hundred  thousand  dollars  a  year  as 
soon  as  he  is  of  age  ;  and  that  will  be  in  the  course  of 
six  or  eight  months." 


350  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA;    OR, 

"  Poor  fellow !  "  said  Mr.  Lowington  with  a  smile. 

"  As  he  is  fond  of  the  sea,  I  don't  suppose  he  can 
spend  his  money  any  better  than  in  running  this  steam- 
yacht." 

"  He  is  getting  the  right  sort  of  experience  now  to 
enable  him  to  handle  her,"  added  Mr.  Lowington,  as 
they  entered  a  hotel,  on  their  way  to  the  consul's,  to 
see  if  there  were  any  familiar  faces  there. 

There  was  one  familiar  face  there,  and  it  belonged 
to  one  David  Gregory.  He  was  staying  at  the  hotel 
with  his  English  friends.  All  three  of  them  sat  at  a 
table  in  the  public  room,  drinking  a  bottle  of  wine 
together ;  and  the  mutineer  had  already  had  enough  to 
make  him  rather  noisy.  The  principal  immediately 
turned  about  so  that  the  runaway  did  not  see  him,  and 
led  the  way  out  of  the  hotel. 

"  What  is  the  matter  ?  "  asked  Judge  Rodwood,  when 
they  were  in  the  street.  "  You  act  like  a  man  who  sees 
a  hard  creditor  in  the  distance." 

"  One  of  the  young  fellows  you  saw  at  the  table 
drinking  wine  must  have  escaped  from  the  Ville  d'An- 
gers  when  she  was  here,"  replied  Mr.  Lowington.  "  He 
was  the  first  officer,  of  the  steamer,  and  the  one  who 
made  the  trouble  of  which  we  read  in  the  English 
paper." 

"  And  what  are  you  going  to  do  about  it  ?  "  inquired 
the  judge. 

"  I  shall  have  him  locked  up  on  board  of  "the  Ameri- 
can Prince.  I  see  he  has  made  friends  here." 

At  the  consul's,  the  requisite  arrangements  were 
made  for  the  arrest  of  Gregory,  and  a  couple  of  officers 
were  sent  for  that  purpose.  It  was  necessary  for  the 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  351 

principal  to  go  with  them  to  identify  the  fugitive.  The 
party  walked  into  the  room  where  the  merry  party  were 
still  drinking. 

"I  think  I  shall  be  compelled  to  break  up  your 
party,  Gregory,"  said  the  principal  in  his  mild  way. 

The  mutineer  sprang  to  his  feet  as  though  a  cannon 
had  been  discharged  under  his  ear.  Of  course  he  had 
not  expected  the  American  Prince  to  return  to  the 
island,  or  even  the  Ville  d' Angers.  It  was  no  use  to 
contend  against  the  principal  and  the  policemen,  though 
Sir  Philip  Grayner  was  inclined  to  resist. 

"  Mr.  Lowington,  I  tried  to  do  my  duty  on  board  of 
the  steamer;  and  when  O'Hara  attempted  to  run  away 
with  the  vessel,  and  make  a  voyage  to  England  con- 
trary to  his  orders,  I  wanted  to  bring  the  steamer  back. 
I  failed,  and  here  I  am,"  pleaded  Gregory. 

"  I  do  not  care  to  hear  any  explanation  in  this  place. 
On  board  of  the  ship  I  will  listen  to  all  you  have  to 
say,"  replied  the  principal. 

The  officers  sent  him  on  board  the  Prince,  where 
he  was  locked  up  in  a  suitable  apartment  under  the 
charge  of  Peaks,  the  big  boatswain  of  the  vessel.  The 
sprigs  doubtless  made  their  tour  of  the  Isles  of  the 
Sea  and  of  the  United  States  ;  but  Gregory  did  not 
accompany  them. 

On  the  day  of  the  arrival  of  the  Prince  and  the 
Marian,  a  clipper  schooner  came  into  the  port  from 
Teneriffe.  She  had  put  into  Santa  Cruz  de.  Palma ; 
and  Mr.  Lowington  had  a  long  talk  with  her  captain, 
who  reported  the  Ville  d'Angers  as  having  sailed  from 
the  latter  port  on  the  3d  of  the  month,  for  the  Cape 
Verds.  The  Spanish  captain  had  been  on  board  of 


352  ISLES    OF   THE    SEA;    OR, 

the  steamer ;  and  he  declared  that  every  thing  was  in 
perfect  order.  The  students  were  studying  and  recit- 
ing. Capt.  O'Hara  was  anxious  to  find  the  fleet. 

"Why  did  he  go  to  the  Cape  Verds?"  asked  the 
principal. 

"Because  this  fleet  was  reported  as  having  gone 
there,"  replied  the  Spanish  captain. 

If  the  steamer  had  gone  to  the  Cape  Verds,  and 
every  thing  was  in  good  order  on  board  of  her,  it  was 
no  use  to  wait  for  her ;  and  the  American  Prince  and 
the  Marian  sailed  as  soon  as  they  could  get  up  steam. 

On  the  i3th  of  the  month  they  reached  Fayal  again, 
where  the  schooners  were  waiting  for  them.  Gregory 
was  sent  on  board  of  the  Josephine  as  soon  as  the 
anchor  of  the  Prince  touched  the  rocks  at  the  bottom. 
Mr.  Fluxion  received  him  with  a  smile,  for  discipline 
had  been  victorious  in  the  end.  All  hands  were  called ; 
and  the  uniform  was  stripped  from  the  recreant  officer. 
Gregory  attempted  to  excuse  himself  on  the  plea  that 
Capt.  O'Hara  was  running  away  with  the  steamer. 

"  All  you  had  to  do  was  to  obey  orders.  But  you 
did  not  believe  that  Capt.  O'Hara  was  running  away 
with  the  vessel :  you  knew  better  than  this.  Your 
number  in  the  Josephine  is  36  from  this  date,"  said 
Mr.  Fluxion  sternly.  "  But  I  will  say  to  you,  and  to 
all,  that  the  next  promotions  in  all  the  vessels  of  the 
fleet  will  be  made  by  the  results  of  an  examination  to 
be  held  on  the  ist  of  June.  Whatever  place  you  win, 
you  shall  have  at  that  time,  though  your  demerits  for 
conduct  will  be  considered  in  making  the  award." 

The  fleet  at  once  departed  for  the  Bermudas.  The 
wind  was  fair,  and  the  weather  generally  good,  with  the 


YOUNG  AMERICA   HOMEWARD   BOUND.  353 

exception  of  a  gale,  and  a  two-days'  fog,  so  that  the 
schooners  made  the  passage  in  ten  days.  The  fleet 
kept  together  all  the  way,  and  sighted  St.  David's 
Head  at  the  same  time.  This  is  the  north-eastern 
point  of  the  islands,  off  which  the  pilots  cruise  in  good 
weather,  and  near  which  are  the  two  eastern  passages 
into  the  inner  waters,  enclosed  by  an  almost  continuous 
reef  to  the  northward  and  westward  of  the  islands. 
Each  vessel  took  a  pilot,  and,  going  through  narrow 
channels  between  the  reefs,  came  into  the  harbor  of 
St.  George,  the  most  northern  town  in  the  islands. 

"  Hurrah  !  hurrah  !  hurrah !  "  came  from  a  steamer 
at  anchor,  as  the  Prince  went  across  her  bow. 

"  What's  that  ?  "  asked  the  principal. 

"  It  must  be  the  truant  steamer,"  replied  Dr.  Win- 
stock. 

"  Three  cheers  for  the  Tritonia ! "  shouted  a  voice 
on  board  of  the  steamer,  as  the  vessel  indicated  came 
into  the  harbor. 

"  The  Ville  d'Angers  has  got  here  before  us,"  said 
Mr.  Pelham.  "  She  must  have  passed  us  in  that  fog." 

"Three  cheers  for  the  Marian!"  called  Capt. 
O'Hara,  as  the  beautiful  steam-yacht  came  into  view. 

They  were  all  given  with  a  will ;  and  there  could  be 
no  doubt  the  students  on  board  were  glad  to  see  their 
shipmates  after  the  long  separation.  In  a  short  time 
the  vessels  of  the  fleet  were  anchored,  and  the  boats 
began  to  drop  from  the  davits  into  the  water. 

"  Arrah,  Tom,  my  darlint !  your  guardian  has  caught 
you  at  last ! "  exclaimed  O'Hara,  when  he  saw  the  barge 
of  the  Marian  approaching  the  steamer. 

"  I  shall  be  as  resigned  as  possible  to  my  fate," 
replied  Tom. 


354  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA;    OR, 

"  To  the  millions  of  money,  you  mane ! " 

"  I  shall  not  quarrel  with  that." 

"  If  you  fall  out  with  it,  remimber  your  best  frind." 

"  I  shall  certainly  do  that,  my  dear  fellow,  whatever 
happens  to  me.  But  I  shall  not  leave  the  squadron  if 
I  can  help  it." 

"  Faix,  I  hope  you  won't  while  I  am  in  it ! "  added 
Capt.  O'Hara,  grasping  the  hand  of  the  second  officer. 
"  But  here  comes  his  honor  the  judge.  Be  ready  for 
him,  Tom,  and  trate  him  loike  a  gintleman." 

"  I  shall  certainly  do  that,"  replied  Tom,  as  he  went 
to  the  gangway,  where  the  steps  had  already  been 
rigged,  though  the  steamer  had  been  in  port  but  a  few 
hours. 

"Which  is  my  boy?"  demanded  the  judge,  as  he 
came  on  deck. 

"  Here  he  is,"  replied  O'Hara,  pointing  out  the 
second  officer. 

"  Tom,  my  lad,  I  am  delighted  to  see  you,  after  wan- 
dering all  over  the  ocean  in  search  of  you !  "  exclaimed 
Judge  Rodwood,  grasping  both  the  hands  of  his  ward, 
and  giving  him  a  very  affectiohate  greeting.  "What 
do  you  mean  by  running  away  from  me  ? " 

"  I  am'  very  glad  to  see  you,  sir ;  though  I  do  not 
want  to  be  taken  out  of  the  squadron,"  replied  Tom, 
who  found  the  judge  a  very  different  person  from  what 
he  had  anticipated. 

He  was  not  a  bit  like  the  stern  judge  he  had  fancied; 
and  he  could  not  help  liking  him  at  first  sight. 

"  You  can  stay  in  the  squadron  till  your  head  is  as 
white  as  mine,  if  you  like,  my  lad,"  protested  the 
guardian  warmly.  "  The  Marian,  which  is  not  a  very 


YOUNG   AMERICA   HOMEWARD   BOUND.  355 

ugly  craft,  is  your  property,  or  will  be  in  a  few  months ; 
and  I  didn't  know  but  you  might  like  to  make  a  cruise 
in  her.  Do  as  you  please,  however." 

"That  alters  the  case,"  replied  Tom,  laughing,  and 
bestowing  an  admiring  glance  upon  the  beautiful  steam- 
yacht.  "  But  I  think  I  should  like  to  remain  a  while 
Longer." 

By  this  time  the  principal  and  the  two  vice-principals 
were  on  board.  They  greeted  the  captain  with  great 
heartiness ;  and  it  was  clear  enough  that  he  was  not 
under  the  displeasure  of  the  authorities.  O'Hara  made 
his  report  in  full  on  the  spot,  detailing  all  the  incidents 
of  the  cruise.  He  sent  for  the  log-books  kept  by  all 
the  officers,  and  submitted  them  for  examination.  The 
captain  had  the  satisfaction  of  having  his  management 
of  the  steamer  approved. 

The  meeting  between  Mr.  Frisbone  and  the  princi- 
pal was  a  very  interesting  event;  and  the  ship's  com- 
pany of  the  Ville  d'Angers  understood  its  meaning  so 
well,  that  they  involuntarily  gave  three  cheers  as  the 
two  gentlemen  joined  hands  on  the  deck. 

"  Your  boys  have  been  the  salvation  of  myself  and 
those  I  care  a  good  deal  more  for  than  I  do  for  myself, 
Mr.  Lowington  ! "  exclaimed  the  prince ;  and  the  tears 
,  gathered  in  his  eyes  as  he  spoke. 

"  I  am  glad  that  they  have  been  of  service  to  you," 
replied  the  principal,  as  they  retired  to  the  cabin  to  see 
the  ladies. 

"That  Tom  Speers,  who  is  worth  three  millions  of 
dollars  now,  would  weigh  down  the  whole  of  the  money 
in  gold,"  continued  the  Prince ;  and  he  proceeded  to 
tell  the  story  of  Tom's  noble  conduct  in  saving  the 
life  of  Miss  Rodwood. 


356  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  j    OR, 

"  I  hope  the  money  that  comes  to  him  will  not  spoil 
him.  He  had  been  brought  up  in  poverty;  and  the 
change  may  turn  his  head,"  added  the  principal. 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Frisbone.    "  Tom's 
head  is  not  one  of  the  sort  to  be  turned  by  money,  or 
any  thing  else.    He  will  do  more  good  with  that  fortune   , 
than  his  uncle  ever  did ;  and  I  thank  God  it  has  fallen 
into  good  hands." 

"  Let  us  hope  so." 

"  And  believe  so ;  for  I  know  the  young  man  through 
and  through." 

"This  is  a  fine  steamer  you  have,  Mr.  Frisbone," 
added  the  principal,  looking  about  the  cabin. 

"  It  is  a  fine  steamer  you  have,  Mr.  Lowington," 
yelled  the  Prince,  in  his  loudest  tone.  "  She  belongs 
to  you,  every  timber  and  bolt  in  her !  she  was  saved  by 
your  boys,  or  she  would  have  gone  to  the  bottom. 
More  than  this,  I  have  a  considerable  sum  of  money 
from  the  salvage  of  the  Castle  William,  which  I  shall 
pay  over  to  you,  deducting  the  expenses  I  have  incurred 
in  fitting  up  the  ship,  coaling  and  provisioning  her." 

The  Prince  produced  his  accounts,  and  insisted  upon 
paying  over  his  balance  in  sovereigns  to  the  principal ; 
who  received  it  under  protest. 

"  What  shall  I  do  with  the  steamer  ? "  asked  Mr. 
Lowington. 

"  Use  her  instead  of  them  two  topsail  schooners ! " 
screamed  the  Prince,  as  he  always  did  when  he  had  a 
bright  idea. 

"  In  due  time  we  will  consider  that  question.  Now 
you  are  almost  back  to  New  York,  where  you  started 
from ;  and  I  understand  that  you  were  in  quest  of 
health  for  your  wife's  sister." 


YOUNG   AMERICA   HOMEWARD    BOUND.  357 

.  "That's  so;  but  I  don't  think  any  thing  particular 
ails  her  now.  We  have  given  her  something  to  think 
about  all  the  time;  and  I  guess  she  is  pretty  much 
cured  now.  I  shall  spend  the  winter  in  that  place  on 
the  back  side  of  the  peak  of  Teneriffe;  and  if  I  get 
there  by  the  ist  of  December,  it  will  be  soon  enough." 

"  Then  this  steamer  must  convey  you  to  your  destina- 
tion," said  the  principal. 

"  Well,  I  sha'n't  mind  staying  with  you  all  summer, 
if  you  don't  object.  This  sort  of  life  agrees  with  my 
wife  and  her  sister,  now  they  have  got  used  to  it ;  and 
I  don't  get  sea-sick  myself." 

The  rest  of  the  day  was  spent  in  exchanging  visits 
between  the  vessels  ;  and  not  much  study  was  done. 
The  Prince  and  his  ladies  visited  the  Marian  and  the 
American  Prince.  Tom  Speers  went  with  them  ;  for  it 
could  not  be  denied  that  he  was  a  prime  favorite  with 
the  ladies,  and  especially  with  Miss  Louise.  Clinch 
was  sent  back  to  the  Josephine,  and  became  No.  35. 

The  next  morning,  when  things  had  settled  down 
again,  the  signal  for  the  lecture  was  displayed  on  board 
of  the  American  Prince.  The  grand  saloon  of  the 
steamer  was  crowded  on  this  occasion,  for  all  the  pas- 
sengers, officers,  and  engineers  of  the  Marian  and  the 
Ville  d' Angers  were  present. 

"  Before  the  professor  begins  his  lecture,  I  wish  to 
say  that  all  the  offices  of  the  squadron  will  be  given 
out  in  accordance  with  the  results  of  an  examination 
to  be  conducted  at  Hamilton,  beginning  on  the  ist  of 
June.  It  will  include  all  branches  of  study  and  seaman- 
ship ;  and  the  marks  for  conduct  will  be  added  to  the 
result  of  the  examination,"  said  the  principal.  "  I  am 


358  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA;    OR, 

sorry  I  was  not  able  to  give  this  notice  to  the  ship's 
company  of  the  Tritonia  on  the  ist  of  May,  as  I  did  in 
the  other  vessels." 

"  But  we  all  knew  there  was  to  be  a  new  method 
adopted ;  and  some  of  us  were  sure  it  was  to  be  an  ex- 
amination," added  O'Hara,  when  he  had  obtained  per- 
mission to  speak. 

"  So  much  the  better  if  you  understood  the  matter. 
I  will  add  that  we  have  another  vessel  to  officer,  and 
that  the  examination  will  be  general ;  that  is,  the  offices 
will  be  assigned  throughout  the  squadron,  instead  of 
confining  the  result  to  a  single  vessel.  The  one  who 
stands  highest  will  have  his  choice  of  all  the  places  in 
the  squadron  ;  and  so  on  till  all  the  positions  are  given 
out.  I  wish  you  all  to  consider  the  subject  during  the 
next  week,  so  that  you  can  choose  your  places  without 
any  delay.  I  have  adopted  this  method,  after  consult- 
ing the  faculty,  rather  because  it  affords  a  little  variety 
than-  because  it  is  a  superior  plan  to  the  one  we  have 
been  using." 

The  principal  retired,  and  Professor  Mapps  took  his 
place  before  the  chart  he  had  made  of  the  Bermudas. 

"  These  islands  are  different  in  many  respects  from 
any  you  have  yet  visited,"  the  professor  began.  "  They 
are  coralline, — the  most  northerly  of  this  type  in  the 
world.  The  rock  formed  is  a  gray  limestone,  which  is 
very  soft.  They  are  in  latitude  thirty-two,  twenty  ;  and 
in  longitude  sixty-four,  fifty.  The  group  consists  of 
five  principal  islands,  and  about  five  hundred  small 
ones,  varying  in  size  from  a  few  square  feet  up  to  a 
square  mile  in  extent.  The  largest  island  is  Bermuda, 
which  is  fifteen  miles  long,  and  occupies  the  most 


YOUNG  AMERICA   HOMEWARD   BOUND.  359 

southern  position  in  the  group.  On  it  is  Hamilton, 
the  capital.  The  land  on  our  starboard  side,  where 
you  see  the  town,  is  St.  George,  three  miles  and  a  half 
in  length  ;  on  the  other  side  of  us  is  St.  David's,  about 
two  and  a  half  miles  long.  The  other  two  are  in  the 
south-west,  Somerset  and  Ireland,  each  two  or  three 
miles  in  length.  None  of  the  islands  are  more  than  two 
miles  wide,  and  in  some  places  you  can  hardly  choose 
on  which  side  you  would  fall  overboard.  The  group  is 
twenty  miles  long;  and  they  contain  only  twenty-four 
square  miles  of  land,  with  a  population  of  about  twelve 
thousand.  More  than  half  of  the  people  are  negroes. 

"There  are  few  wells,  or  at  least  few  that  produce 
good  water.  You  observe  that  the  houses  in  the  town 
of  St.  George  are  all  white  or  nearly  so,  including  the 
roofs.  They  have  not  been  whitewashed,  as  you  may 
suppose  ;  but  they  are  plastered.  This  is  done  to  keep 
them  clean  ;  for  all  the  water  used  is  gathered  on  them, 
and  kept  in  cisterns  or  tanks.  Where  large  quantities 
are  required,  and  the  roofs  do  not  afford  a  sufficient 
supply,  portions  of  the  hillside  are  plastered  in  the 
same  manner,  and  the  water  that  is  collected  on  them 
is  saved.  The  water  from  the  clouds  is  the  purest  that 
can  be  had,  if  it  can  be  kept  free  from  impurities  after 
it  falls. 

"  Agriculture,  possibly  for  the  want  of  labor,  is  in  a 
very  backward  state.  The  negroes  are  not  disposed  to 
work  any  more  than  enough  to  procure  the  bare  neces- 
sities of  life.  You  will  see  little  patches  of  ground 
spaded  up,  for  they  don't  often  use  the  plough,  as  the 
irregular  surface  of  the  land  hardly  admits  it  in  many 
places.  But  it  is  remarkably  fertile  and  productive. 


360  ISLES   OF   THE    SEA;    OR, 

It  yields  three  crops  a  year  of  vegetables,  which  find 
a  ready  market  in  the  neighboring  ports  of  the  United 
States,  only  six  to  seven  hundred  miles  distant.  The 
exports  of  the  Bermudas  amount  to  about  three  hun- 
dred and  fifty  thousand  dollars  a  year.  There  is  a 
regular  steamer  to  and  from  New  York,  but  the  gov- 
ernment has  to  subsidize  the  company  that  runs  it. 

"  This  is  a  very  important  naval  and  military  station 
of  Great  Britain,  with  extensive  magazines  and  store- 
houses. On  the  island  of  Ireland  is  a  dock-yard,  pro- 
vided with  a  floating  dry  dock,  built  of  iron  in  England, 
and  towed  out  to  the  islands.  As  a  naval  and  mili- 
tary station,  the  islands  are  said  to  be  second  only  to 
Malta.  On  account  of  this  interest,  the  governor, 
whose  authority  is  little  less  than  supreme,  is  appointed 
by  the  crown  of  England ;  and  the  incumbent  is  inva- 
riably a  man  of  great  ability.  The  two  branches  of  the 
Legislature  are  the  House  of  Assembly,  which  is  the 
popular  body,  elected  by  the  people  of  the  parishes, 
and  the  Council,  nominated  to  the  crown  by  the  govern- 
or. Though  white  and  black  are  allowed  to  vote, 
there  are  three  times  as  many  voters  of  the  former  as 
of  the  latter.  The  voter  must  own  real  estate  to  the 
amount  of  sixty  pounds  ;  and  he  must  have  four  times 
this  amount  before  he  can  be  a  member  of  the  House 
of  Assembly.  No  negro  has  ever  been  elected  to  this 
office. 

"  The  climate  may  be  said  to  be  delightful  ;  and  as 
a  rule  the  islands  are  very  healthy.  When  the  yellow 
fever  and  other  diseases. have  prevailed  here  as  epidem- 
ics, it  has  been  entirely  owing  to  the  lack  of  proper 
drainage,  and  the  neglect  of  other  sanitary  measures. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  361 

The  mercury  rarely  goes  above  eighty-five  or  below 
forty;  and  the  average  is  about  seventy.  It  hardly 
compares  with  Orotava,  and  it  is  too  damp  for  most 
pulmonary  affections. 

"  I  will  conclude  this  brief  talk  with  a  word  about 
the  history  of  the  islands.  They  get  their  name  from 
a  Spaniard  by  the  name  of  Juan  Bermudez,  who  dis- 
coverd  them  about  four  hundred  years  ago.  But  it  was 
not  settled  by  the  Spaniards.  Very  likely  the  roving 
buccaneers  of  the  Spanish  main  had  temporary  homes 
here  ;  and  there  are  stories  of  vast  wealth  hidden  by 
these  worthies.  When  the  more  modern  settlers  took 
possession  of  it,  they  found  hogs  in  vast  numbers, 
though  the  islands  were  uninhabited  ;  and  there  were 
many  evidences  of  the  visits  of  human  beings. 

"In  1609,  not  long  after  the  first  settlement  of  Vir- 
ginia, a  vessel  called  the  Sea  Adventure  was  fitted  out 
in  England  to  convey  Sir  Thomas  Gates,  just  appointed 
governor  of  the  Virginia  Colony,  Admiral  Sir  George 
Somers,  and  other  officials,  to  the  scene  of  their  future 
labors.  "  This  vessel  went  with  a  fleet,  loaded  with 
colonists  and  supplies  for  the  new  home  in  Virginia. 
In  a  terrible  storm,  the  Sea  Adventure  was  separated 
from  the  rest  of  the  fleet,  and  was  wrecked  on  the 
Bermudas.  After  suffering  great  hardships,  the  ship- 
wrecked party  reached«the  shores  of  these  islands  with- 
out the  loss  of  a  single  life.  The  voyagers  found  plenty 
of  turtle,  fish,  and  fruit  in  the  island,  as  well  as  a  most 
delicious  climate  ;  and  they  were  so  well  pleased  with 
the  paradise  they  had  found,  that  they  did  not  attempt 
to  get  away  for  a  year.  At  the  end  of  this  time  they 
had  built  a  vessel,  in  which  they  embarked  for  Virginia, 


362  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

and  reached  their  destination  in  safety.  But  the  colony 
•were  in  the  utmost  need  of  supplies,  being  almost  in  a 
state  of  starvation.  .In  this  emergency  Sir  George 
Somers,  who  is  represented  as  a  noble  and  unselfish 
man,  willing  to  peril  his  life  for  the  salvation  of  others, 
procuring  a  party  of  volunteers  to  accompany  him, 
sailed  for  the  Bermudas  to  obtain  a  supply  of  provis- 
ions from  that  land,  '  flowing  with  milk  and  honey.' 
Unhappily  he  died  when  his  vessel  reached  the  locality 
where  we  now  are ;  and  after  him  this  island  was  called 
St.  George,  though  I  cannot  say  when  or  how  he  hap- 
pened to  be  canonized.  After  him  also  the  scene  of 
his  death  received  the  name  of  the  'Somers  Islands,' 
as  they  are  often  called.  The  colonists  reported  so 
favorably,  that  settlements  were  commenced  in  1612 ; 
and  the  islands  have  been  under  the  British  Govern- 
ment since  that  time." 

The  professor  finished  his  remarks,  and  the  students 
hastened  on  shore  for  the  first  time. 


YOUNG   AMERICA   HOMEWARD   BOUND.  363 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND. 

"  r"T*HE  professor  did  not  say  this  used  to  be  called 
J_  '  The  Isle  of  Devils,' "  said  Dr.  Winstbck,  when 
he  seated  himself  in  the  stern-sheets  of  the  captain's 
gig,  with  Sheridan  and  Murray.  "  It  was  so  called 
because  it  was  such  a  terrible  place  for  shipwrecks. 
But  the  science  of  navigation  had  not  been  carried  to 
such  perfection  in  those  days  as  at  present." 

"  This  is  a  queer  old  place,"  said  Murray,  when  he 
had  obtained  a  view  of  the  town. 

"  It  is  not  a  very  progressive  place  ;  and  things 
appear  here  pretty  much  as  they  did  a  hundred  years 
ago.  The  houses  are  of  the  fashion  of  the  past ;  and 
I  have  no  doubt  that  some  of  them  are  over  a  century 
old.  But  this  is  a  beautiful  harbor ;  and  you  will  be 
delighted  when  you  get  on  the  top  of  some  hill,  to  see 
the  panorama  spread  out  before  you.  The  views  in  the 
Bermudas  are  peculiar.  The  little  islands  look  like  so 
many  green  hillocks  rising  out  of  the  water  \  and  much 
of  the  scenery  is  quite  rugged.  There  is  an  island  off 
there,  with  a  little  white  cottage  upon  it.  For  my  part, 
I  think  there  is  nothing  more  lovely  in  the  world  ;  and 
if  we  could  have  the  society  of  the  States,  as  they  call 


364  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

our  country,  I  should  spend  the  rest  of  my  days 
here." 

The  party  landed  from  the  boat,  and  Wainwright 
and  Scott  joined  them.  They  walked  into  the  town, 
taking  a  general  view  of  it.  The  houses  seem  to  be 
scattered  about  without  any  regard  to  order. 

"  This  reminds  me  of  the  town  of  Gosport  on  the 
Isles  of  Shoals,  before  the  hand  of  improvement 
touched  it,"  said  the  surgeon.  "  Every  man  built  his 
house  where  he  chose,  without  heeding  any  possibility 
of  streets  in  the  present  or  the  future.  Here  is  a  pretty 
cottage  with  its  front  garden  bordered  by  a  laborer's 
hovel.  During  our  war  a  great  deal  of  business  was 
done  here  in  blockade-running  ;  but  it  don't  appear  to 
be  very  driving  in  any  thing  now." 

A  short  time  exhausted  the  streets,  or  rather  lanes,  of 
the  town.  It  contains  between  two  and  three  thousand 
inhabitants.  The  business  men  rarely  live  in  either 
St.  George  or  Hamilton,  the  only  towns  in  the  islands  ; 
but,  when  the  work  of  the  day  is  ended,  they  drive  or 
sail  away  to  their  cottages  on  the  islands. 

All  around  St.  George  are  forts  to  defend  the  only 
practicable  entrance  for  large  vessels  to  the  interior 
sea,  about  twenty-five  miles  by  ten,  enclosed  by  the 
reefs,  in  which  there  are  only  a  few  openings,  so  intri- 
cate and  dangerous  that  they  can  be  navigated  only  by 
the  most  skilful  pilots. 

The  doctor's  party  walked  to  Cherry-stone  Hill, 
about  a  mile  from  the  town,  which  commanded  a  view 
of  the  islands  to  the  eastward,  the  forts,  and  the  harbor. 
They  sat  there  for  hours,  enjoying  the  prospect  of  sea 
and  land,  and  the  delicious  air  of  the  place. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD   BOUND.  365 

The  next  morning  the  entire  squadron,  in  charge  of 
the  pilots,  sailed  for  Hamilton,  the  capital,  where  the 
principal  intended  to  remain  for  two  or  three  weeks. 
On  the  passage,  which  is  about  fifteen  miles  around, 
through  Grassy  Bay  and  Great  Sound,  up  to  the  head 
of  a  considerable  inlet,  where  the  capital  is  situated, 
the  students  obtained  a  full  view  of  the  dock-yard  and 
floating  dock,  which  contained  a  large  man-of-war  at 
the  time,  and  of  the  great  store-houses.  On  the  other 
side,  near  the  shore,  at  the  back  of  the  town,  was  the 
governor's  house.  Threading  their  way  among  the 
multitude  of  islands,  the  fleet  reached  its  destination, 
and  anchored  in  front  of  the  town.  It  is  built  on  the 
gentle  slope  of  the  hills ;  and,  with  its  white-roofed 
buildings,  presents  a  very  neat  and  pretty  appearance. 

The  students  were  permitted  to  go  on  shore  as  soon 
as  every  thing  had  been  made  snug  on  board  the  ves- 
sels. In  half  an  hour  more  they  were  wandering 
through  its  streets.  But  there  was  really  little  in  the 
place  to  see  ;  and,  as  it  contains  only  two  thousand 
inhabitants,  it  was  soon  exhausted. 

After  dinner,  the  doctor  and  his  party  took  carriages 
for  a  drive.  Tom  Speers  and  O'Hara,  with  Miss 
Louise,  the  Prince  and  his  wife,  formed  another  party. 
These  excursions  were  repeated  every  afternoon  for  a 
week.  They  visited  the  southern  part  of  the  island  of 
Bermuda,  where  a  hill  nearly  four  hundred  feet  high 
afforded  them  a  magnificent  view  of  Port  Royal  Bay 
and  Great  Sound,  both  sheets  of  water  packed  with 
islands.  On  some  of  them  are  the  neat  white  cottages 
one  sees  all  over  the  main  islands.  In  the  vicinity  of 
Hamilton  there  are  many  more  pretentious  buildings ; 


366  ISLES   OF  THE   SEA;    OR, 

but  these  little  country  places  are  the  charm  of  the 
landscape.  Though  some  of  these  structures  are  very 
old,  they  seem  to  be  in  good  repair ;  for  there  is  no 
freezing  in  the  winter  to  throw  a  building  out  of  shape, 
or  settle  the  foundation  unequally  in  different  places. 

"  I  see  they  keep  all  sorts  of  animals  tied  up  in  this 
country,"  said  Murray,  as  the  party  were  out  on  one  of 
these  drives.  "  There  are  some  hens  moored  by  the 

leg." 

"  You  see  these  little  gardens  in  all  parts  of  the 
islands.  They  are  fenced  in  with  oleander  ;  but  a 
couple  of  those  hens  could  ruin  the  hopes  of  the  gar- 
dener, after  he  has  planted  his  onion-seed,  or  prepared 
his  arrow-root  plantation.  For  this  reason  all  the 
domestic  animals  that  live  out  doors  are  tied  to  keep 
them  out  of  mischief,"  replied  the  doctor.  "  Our  first 
onions  and  tomatoes  usually  come  from  these  islands." 

Sometimes  the  drive  was  taken  in  the  opposite 
direction,  towards  St.  George.  Speare  and  Paynter 
Hills,  in  the  vicinity  of  Harrington  Sound,  afforded  the 
excursionists  the  desired  views  of  the  country.  The 
sound  is  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water.  The  scenery  all 
around  it  is  enchanting  ;  and  there  were  any  number 
of  bowers  in  the  dense  growth  of  tropical  trees  and 
shrubs,  which  were  full  of  interest  to  the  wanderers 
from  the  sea. 

There  is  no  end  of  caves  in  the  limestone  rock ; 
and  caves  are  a  positive  glory  to  boys.  Tom  Moore 
lived  for  a  time  in  this  island,  and  wrote  poetry,  invest- 
ing the  locality  with  romance  and  sentiment;  and 
Moore's  "calabash-tree"  is  still  a  favorite  resort  to  the 
visitor.  Devil's  Hole,  or,  more  poetically,  Neptune's 


YOUNG  AMERICA   HOMEWARD  BOUND.  367 

Grotto,  is  a  rocky  abyss  filled  with  clear  water,  and  has 
an  underground  connection  with  the  sea. 

"  How  full  of  fish  it  is  !  "  exclaimed  Sheridan,  as  he 
discovered  that  the  water  was  alive  with  several  ^fcrie- 
ties  of  fish. 

"  This  is  used  to  keep  the  fish  caught  in  other  wa- 
ters, at  the  proper  season,  to  be  taken  from  this  store- 
house when  they  are  not  available  elsewhere,"  answered 
the  surgeon.  "You  will  find  a  great  many  ponds  in 
Bermuda  applied  to  this  use.  You  have  observed  how 
clear  the  water  is." 

"  Isn't  this  a  capital  road  ?  "  said  Wainwright,  as 
the  carriage  moved  on  towards  Hamilton. 

"  You  will  find  such  in  all  countries  where  the  Eng- 
lish people  have  lived  long  enough  to  make  them. 
There  are  a  hundred  and  fifty  miles  of  these  good 
hard  roads  in  the  twenty -four  square  miles  of  the 
Bermudas.  You  see  they  have  to  be  cut  through  the 
rock  in  some  places,"  said  the  doctor,  as  the  carriage 
passed  through  such  a  cutting,  the  walls  on  both  sides 
being  covered  with  vines,  and  with  an  abundance  of 
plants  growing  out  of  the  interstices. 

Dr.  Winstock  botanized  somewhat  with  those  of  his 
charge  who  had  a  taste  for  the  study  ;  and  there  was 
abundant  material  to  illustrate  the  subject.  The  road 
all  along  from  the  Sound  to  Hamilton  was  bordered 
with  flowers  ;  and  when  the  party  stopped  at  a  house, 
to  look  a/-  its  wealth  of  floral  treasures,  it  was  not  unus- 
ual for  the  courteous  inhabitants  to  come  out,  and  invite 
them  to  enter  the  grounds,  or  to  accept  a  hastily  gath- 
ered bouquet.  Indeed,  nothing  could  exceed  the  cour- 
tesy and  kindness  of  the  people  in  town  and  country. 


368  ISLES   OF  THE   SEA;    OR, 

They  all  seemed  to  be  interested  in  the  students,  and 
especially  in  the  ladies  from  the  Ville  d'Angers. 

The  excursions  were  not  confined  to  those  made  in 
carflages.  The  students  were  roaming  all  over  the 
islands,  during  the  afternoons,  which  were  wholly  given 
up  to  sight  -  seeing.  All  could  not  afford  carriages ; 
and  there  were  not  enough  of  them  to  supply  all,  even 
if  money  had  been  plenty  with  them.  Most  of  the 
boys  walked  ;  and  in  their  rambles  they  had  a  deal  of 
fun  among  themselves,  and  with  the  multitude  of 
negroes  that  collected  whenever  the  young  tars  were 
engaged  in  a  frolic. 

Quite  as  pleasant  as  the  rides  in  the  carriages  were 
the  excursions  made  in  the  boats  of  the  fleet  On  one 
occasion  all  the  boats  of  the  squadron,  sixteen  in 
number,  made  an  excursion  to  the  dock-yard.  In  the 
waters  of  Grassy  Bay  they  gave  an  exhibition  of  the 
skill  of  the  students  in  handling  the  cutters,  which 
drew  cheers  of  approbation  from  the  naval  officers  and 
others  who  witnessed  it.  When  the  display  was  over, 
the  boats'  crew  visited  the  dock-yard,  and  one  of  the 
men-of-war  in  port.  They  were  courteously  shown  all 
over  the  yard,  and  the  operation  of  the  floating-dock 
was  explained  to  them. 

On  the  last  day  of  the  month  the  fleet  left  the  harbor 
of  Hamilton,  and  sought  an  anchorage  in  a  retired 
bay,  about  three  miles  from  the  town.  Here  the 
squadron  was  entirely  landlocked,  and  the  water  was 
as  smooth  as  a  millpond.  The  four  academical  craft 
were  moored  alongside  each  other,  so  that  the  pro- 
fessors could  pass  from  one  to  the  others  without  the 
use  of  the  boats.  Early  in  the  morning  the  examination 


YOUNG   AMERICA   HOMEWARD   BOUND.  369 

was  begun.  It  was  continued  for  three  days ;  but  it 
was  understood  that  the  result  would  give  the  officers 
and  students  their  positions  for  three  months,  instead 
of  one  as  before  ;  for  such  a  thorough  examination  was 
not  possible  more  than  once  in  a  quarter. 

All.  the  ambitious  students  had  been  at  work  very 
diligently  for  the  last  two  months,  preparing  for  this 
great  event.  Tom  Speers  and  Capt.  O'Hara  had  given 
very  little  time  to  frolic  and  sight-seeing  during  the 
time  the  fleet  had  been  at  the  Bermudas ;  but  had  been 
studying  night  and  day.  The  officers  of  the  American 
Prince  had  not  been  so  diligent ;  for  most  of  them  had 
held  their  positions  so  long  that  they  felt  almost  sure 
of  them  in  the  future,  whatever  system  of  promotions 
might  be  adopted. 

On  the  morning  of  the  fourth  day,  all  hands  were 
mustered  under  the  awnings  on  the  deck  of  the  Ameri- 
can Prince  to  learn  the  result  of  the  examination.  The 
principal  took  the  rostrum  which  had  been  built  for 
this  occasion ;  and  an  anxious  silence  followed  his 
appearance.  He  held  in  his  hand  the  paper  on  which 
the  fate  of  every  officer  and  seaman  was  written  down. 

"  Young  gentlemen,"  Mr.  Lowington  began,  "  I  am 
well  aware  that  the  changes  proposed  to-day  will  amount 
to  a  revolution.  About  the  middle  of  the  month,  after 
the  new  crews  of  the  several  vessel  have  been  trained 
to  their  duties  under  the  different  order  of  things,  the 
squadron  will  sail  for  Brockway,  the  former  headquarters 
of  the  fleet.  When  we  have  obtained  a  new  register 
for  the  Ville  d' Angers,,  she  will  be  called  the  Frisbone." 

In  spite  of  the  anxiety  that  pervaded  the  audience 
of  the  principal,  this  announcement  was  received  with 


370  'ISLES    OF   THE   SEA  ;    OR, 

the  most  tremendous  applause.  The  Prince,  who  was 
present  with  his  wife  and  Miss  Louise,  felt  called  upon 
to  make  a  speech,  acknowledging  the  honor  conferred 
upon  him.  He  would  rather  have  his  name  on  the 
stern  of  a  vessel  used  for  the  purpose  to  which  the 
"  Frisbone  "  was  to  be  applied,  than  on  that  of  the 
biggest  ocean  steamer  that  could  bear  it  to  the  most 
remote  regions  of  the  earth. 

"  The  Frisbone  will  take  the  place  of  the  Josephine 
and  the  Tritonia,  after  she  has  been  properly  fitted  for 
the  purpose.  With  the  two  steamers,  which  will  not 
have  to  wait  for  any  sailing-vessels,  we  jnay  make  a 
voyage  around  the  world  ;  for  I  intend  to  re-organize 
the  squadron,  on  a  much  more  extensive  plan  of  study. 
But  this  will  not  be  done  till  the  end  of  the  quarter 
upon  which  we  have  now  begun. 

"The  Frisbone  will  now  be  officered  in  the  same 
manner  as  the  schooner,  with  a  captain,  four  lieuten- 
ants, and  four  masters.  The  office  of  purser  and  mid- 
shipman on  board  of  the  Prince  will  be  abolished,  so 
that  there  will  be  only  nine  cabin  officers  on  board  of 
each  vessel. ,  The  two  engineers  of  the  Frisbone  will 
be  relieved  from  further  duty  in  that  department.  The 
Prince  will  have  forty-eight  petty  officers  and  seamen, 
and  each  of  the  other  vessels  thirty-six.  Since  the 
late  Commodore  Cantwell  left  the  academy  squadron, 
the  office  he  held  has  not  been  filled,  for  the  reason 
that  those  who  came  out  the  highest  preferred  the  more 
active  position  of  captain.  We  shall  in  future  dispense 
with  this  ornamental  figure-head. 

"  In  addition  to  the  choice  of  offices,  each  student 
will  be  entitled  to  elect  in  which  of  the  four  vessels  he 


YOUNG   AMERICA   HOMEWARD    BOUND.  371 

will  serve  for  the  coming  quarter,  until  the  comple- 
ments are  complete.  Some  exchanges  may  be  allowed 
in  the  end,  for  I  am  not  disposed  to  separate  friends 
unnecessarily ;  but  all  such  must  be  on  equal  terms, 
and  by  agreement  between  those  exchanged." 

The  principal  paused  to  put  on  his  glasses,  and  the 
students  improved  the  opportunity  to  applaud  the  plan 
laid  clown. 

"The  first  name  on  the  list  is  Sheridan,"  continued 
Mr.  Lowington ;  and  the  usual  demonstration  when 
popular  officers  obtained  good  positions  was  made. 
"  Capt.  Sheridan,  I  congratulate  you  on  the  high  rank 
you  have  won ;  and  you  have  the  right  to  choose  any 
position  in  the  fleet." 

'  "  I  prefer  to  remain  where  I  am,"  replied  Sheridan. 
And  Mr.  Pelham  made  a  record  of  his  choice. 

"  The  next  name  is  that  of  Thomas  Speers,"  said  Mr. 
Lowington. 

The  announcement  seemed  to  create  as  much  sur- 
prise as  when  the  same  name  had  been  mentioned  in 
the  harbor  of  Gibraltar,  two  months  before.  But  all 
the  ship's  company  of  the  Ville  d'Angers  manifested 
a  tremendous  enthusiasm. 

"  Good  boy,  darlint !  "  screamed  O'Hara,  grasping 
Tom's  hand,  and  wringing  it  with  hearty  good-will. 
"  That's  what  all  your  hard  study  manes  ;  and  I  rather 
you  had  this  place  than  have  it  myself." 

"  What  place  do  you  elect  ?  "  asked  the  principal. 

"  I  am  sure  you  will  come  next,  and  I  shall  take  the 
position  of  first  lieutenant  of  our  steamer,"  whispered 
Tom  to  his  late  captain. 

"  Bother  with  you  1   don't  do  any  thing  of  the  sort ! 


372  ISLES    OF   THE   SEA;    OR, 

my  name  may  not  come  till  the  fortieth,  and  then  where 
shall  we  be?  "  protested  O'Hara.  "  He  will  take  the 
place  of  captain  of  the  Frisbone,"  he  added,  turning  to 
the  principal. 

"  You  must  speak  for  yourself,  Mr.  Speers,"  said  the 
principal,  with  a  smile. 

"  Will  you  tell  me  what  name  comes  next  on  the  list, 
Mr.  Lowington  ?  "  asked  Tom. 

"  I  cannot  do  that,"  replied  the  principal,  shaking  his 
head.  "And  I  hope  no  student  will  give  way  for  another." 

"  Captain  of  the  Frisbone,"  replied  Tom,  who  would 
gladly  have  given  up  the  position  in  favor  of  O'Hara. 

Wainwright  came  in  third,  and  selected  his  present 
office  in  the  Tritonia. 

"  O'Hara  is  the  fourth  on  the  list,"  the  principal  pro- 
ceeded. 

Tom  Speers  engineered  a  very  warm  demonstration 
in  favor  of  his  friend,  when  the  announcement  was  made, 
as  O'Hara  had  done  when  his  own  was  mentioned. 

"  I  am  knocked  out  of  my  place  ! "  exclaimed  Vroome, 
the  captain  of  the  Josephine. 

But  O'Hara,  without  an  instant's  hesitation,  selected 
the  position  of  first  lieutenant  of  the  Frisbone,  and  then 
he  wanted  to  hug  Tom.  , 

"  Murray,"  read  the  principal  from  the  list. 

The  Josephines  shook  again  ;  but  Murray  preferred 
his  old  place  as  first  lieutenant  of  the  Prince,  for  he 
and  the  captain  were  very  dear  friends,  and  were 
always  together  with  the  doctor  when  they  went  on 
shore.  Vroome  fortunately  came  next,  and  the  Joseph- 
ines were  put  out  of  misery. 

The  principal  went  through  the  list,  and  it  was  found 


YOUNG   AMERICA    HOMEWARD    BOUND.  373 

by  the  students,  that  the  officers  were  not  very  different 
from  what  they  had  been  before,  except  in  the  few  cases 
where  extraordinary  efforts  had  been  made.  With 
hardly  an  exception,  they  preferred  to  remain  in  the 
vessels  they  had  belonged  to  before.  Scott  came  out 
third  lieutenant  of  the  Tritonia,  and  Blair  recovered 
his  lost  place  in  the  cabin,  Richards  having  fallen  out 
of  it.  Gregory  and  Clinch  were  seamen,  and  chose  to 
serve  in  the  Prince. 

"  Tom  Speers,  you  are  ten  times  the  man  I  took  you 
to  be,"  said  Judge  Rodwood,  grasping  the  hand  of  his 
ward,  when  he  got  near  enough  to  him  to  do  so.  "  I 
am  sure  your  uncle's  fortune,  or  that  part  of  it  that 
came  to  you,  will  go  to  the  right  place.  I  congratulate 
you,  Capt.  Speers,  and  I  know  you  are  worthy  of  the 
place  you  have  won." 

"  Thank  you,  sir,"  replied  Tom,  glowing  with  excite- 
ment. "  I  set  out  for  the  position,  or  one  just  like  it, 
and  I  have  got  it.  Of  course  you  will  not  expect  me 
to  leave  the  squadron  now  ? " 

"  Certainly  not ;  but  as  soon  as  you  are  twenty-one  I 
shall  hand  the  Marian  over  to  you ;  and  any  time 
before  that,  when  you  choose  to  leave  the  command  of 
the  Frisbone,  she  is  at  your  service." 

Capt.  Speers  decided  not  to  make  any  use  of  her  at 
present.  In  the  afternoon  the  new  officers  were  put 
into  position  on  board  of  the  vessels  of  the  fleet. 
Tom  took  possession  of  the  captain's  cabin;  and 
O'Hara  "gushed"  all  the  afternoon,  he  was  so  pleased 
with  the  present  order  of  things  on  board. 

On  the  1 5th  of  the  month,  the  fleet,  including  the 
Marian,  sailed  for  Brockway.  After  a  pleasant  June 
passage,  the  vessels  arrived. 


374  ISLES   OF   THE   SEA. 

And  now,  having  taken  the  academy  squadron  twice 
across  the  Atlantic,  our  series  of  stories  comes  to  an 
end.  In  the  course  of  the  summer  the  principal  re- 
organized ,his  squadron,  as  he  had  intended.  In 
November  Tom  Speers,  as  captain  of  the  Frisbone,  as 
she  was  now  legally  named,  conveyed  Mr.  Frisbone, 
his  wife,  her  sister,  and  Dr.  Phelps,  to  Orotava,  in  the 
island  of  Teneriffe,  where  they  had  decided  to  spend 
the  winter.  When  he  had  landed  his  passengers,  he 
sailed  for  Havana,  where  the  American  Prince  was  to 
join  him ;  and  the  two  vessels  were  to  spend  the  winter 
in  the  West  Indies. 

Early  in  the  spring  the  two  steamers  went  to  the 
Canaries  again ;  where  a  happy  meeting  between  Tom 
and  Miss  Louise  occurred,  and  it  was  rumored  that 
they  were  in  very  great  peril  of  becoming  more  nearly 
related  in  a  few  months  or  years.  At  this  point  Tom  con- 
cluded, that,  as  he  was  twenty-one,  he  would  retire  from 
the  command,  and  go  on  a  cruise  in  the  Marian.  The 
last  we  heard  of  him,  he  was  in  the  China  Sea,  with 
O'Hara,  who  had  graduated  in  the  fall  of  the  same 
year  as  Tom,  still  sticking  to  him  like  a  brother.  The 
young  millionnaire  does  not  spend  all  his  income  upon 
himself,  and  the  poor  and  the  needy  have  good  reason 
to  thank  God  that  old  Tom  Speers  gave  half  of  his 
colossal  fortune  to  his  nephew. 

Having  taken  our  readers  all  over  Europe,  we  bid 
them  all  good-by  as  we  step  ashore  from  our  voyage 
among  "  The  Isles  of  the  Sea." 


Franklin  Press  :  Raiid,  A  very,  <5r>  Co,,  Boston. 


LEE    A^SHEPARD'S 

LIST   OF 

JUVENILE    PUBLICATIONS. 


OLIVER   OPTIC'S   BOOKS. 

Each  Set  in  a  neat  Box  with  Illuminated  Titles. 

Army  and  Navy  Stories.     A    Library   for    Young   and 

Old,  in  6  volumes.    i6mo.    Illustrated.    Per  vol........  $i  50 

The  Soldier  Boy.  The  Yankee  Middy. 

The  Sailor  Boy.  Fighting  Joe. 

The  Young  Lieutenant  Brave  Old  Salt. 

Famous  "  Boat-Club  "  Series.  A  Library  for  Young 
People.  Handsomely  Illustrated.  Six  volumes,  in  neat 
box.  Per  vol : I  25 

The  Boat  Club  ;  or,  The  Bunkers  of  Rippleton. 

All  Aboard  ;  or,  Life  on  the  Lake. 

Now  or  Never ;  or,  The  Adventures  of  Bobby  Bright 

Try  Again  ;  or,  The  Trials  and  Triumphs  of  Harry  West. 

Poor  and  Proud  ;  or,  The  Fortunes  of  Katy  Redburn. 

Little  by  Little ;  or,  The  Cruise  of  the  Flyaway. 

Lake  Shore  Series,  The.      Six  volumes.      Illustrated. 

In  neat  box.     Per  vol I  *5 

Through  by  Daylight ;    or,  The  Young  Engineer  of  the 

Lake  Shore  Railroad. 

Lightning  Express  ;  or,  The  Rival  Academies. 
On  Time  ;  or,  The  Young  Captain  of  the  Ucayga  Steamer. 
Switch  Off ;  or,  The  War  of  the  Students. 
Break  Up  ;  or,  The  Young  Peacemakers. 
Bear  and   Forbear;     or,   The    Young   Skipper   of  Lake 

Ucayga. 


LEE  &  SHEPARD'S  JUVENILE   PUBLICATIONS. 

Soldier  Boy  Series,  The.     Three  volumes,   in  neat 

box.     Illustrated     Per  vol I  50 

The  Soldier  Boy ;  or,  Tom  Somers  in  the  Army. 

The  Young  Lieutenant ;  or,  The  Adventures  of  an  Army 

Officer. 
Fighting  Joe  ;  or,  The  Fortunes  of  a  Staff  Officer. 

Sailor  Boy  Series,  The.    Three  volumes  in  neat  box. 

Illustrated.     Per  vol I  50 

The  Sailor  Boy ;  or,  Jack  Somers  in  the  Navy. 

The  Yankee  Middy ;  or,  Adventures  of  a  Naval  Officer. 

Brave  Old  Salt ;  or,  Life  on  the  Quarter-Deck. 

Starry  Flag  Series,  The.    Six  volumes.     Illustrated. 

Per  vol I  25 

The  Starry  Flag ;  or,  The  Young  Fisherman  of  Cape  Ann. 
Breaking  Away;  or,  The  Fortunes  of  a  Student. 
Seek  and  Find  ;  or,  The  Adventures  of  a  Smart  Boy. 
Freaks  of  Fortune ;  or,  Half  Round  the  World. 
Make  or  Break ;  or,  The  Rich  Man's  Daughter. 
Down  the  River ;  or,  Buck  Bradford  and  the  Tyrants. 

The   Household   Library.    3  volumes.     Illustrated. 

Per  volume I  50 

Living  too  Fast.  In  Doors  and  Out 

The  Way  of  the  World. 


Way  of  the  World,  The.   By  William  T.  Adams  (Oliver 

Optic) izmo  I  50 

Woodville  Stories.     Uniform  with  Library  for  Young 

People.     Six  volumes.     Illustrated.     Per  vol i6mo  I  25 

Rich  and  Humble  ;  or,  The  Mission  of  Bertha  Grant 
In  School  and  Out ;  or,  The  Conquest  of  Richard  Grant 
Watch  and  Wait ;  or,  The  Young  Fugitives. 
Work  and  Win  ;  or,  Noddy  Newman  on  a  Cruise. 
Hope  and  Have  ;  or,  Fanny  Grant  among  the  Indians. 
Haste  and  Waste ;  or,  The  Young  Pilot  of  Lake  Champlain. 


LEE  &  SHEPARD'S  JUVENILE  PUBLICATIONS. 

Yacht  Club  Series.  Uniform  with  the  ever  popular 
"  Boat  Club  "  Series.  Completed  in  six  vols.  Illustrated 
Pervol i6mo  i  50 

Little  Bobtail  ;  or,  The  Wreck  of  the  Penobscot. 

The  Yacht  Club ;  or,  The  Young  Boat  Builders. 

Money  Maker  ;  or,  The  Victory  of  the  Basilisk. 

The  Coming  Wave  ;  or,  The  Treasure  of  High  Rock. 

The  Dorcas  Club ;  or,  Our  Girls  Afloat. 

Ocean  Born ;  or,  The  Cruise  of  the  Clubs. 

Onward  and  Upward  Series,  The.     Complete  in  six 

volumes.     Illustrated.     In  neat  box.     Pervol ". ..   i  25 

Field  and  Forest ;  or,  The  Fortunes  of  a  Farmer. 
Plane  and  Plank ;  or,  The  Mishaps  of  a  Mechanic. 
Desk  and  Debit ;  or,  The  Catastrophes  of  a  Clerk. 
Cringle  and  Cross-Tree  ;  or,  The  Sea  Swashes  of  a  Sailor. 
Bivouac  and  Battle  ;  or,  The  Struggles  of  a  Soldier. 
Sea  and  Shore  ;  or,  The  Tramps  of  a  Traveller. 

5Toung  America  Abroad  Series.  A  Library  of 
Travel  and  Adventure  in  Foreign  Lands.  Illustrated 
by  Nast,  Stevens,  Perkins,  and  others.  Per  vol.  i6mo  i  50 

First  Series. 

Outward  Bound  ;  or,  Young  America  Afloat. 

Shamrock  and  Thistle  j  or,  Young  America  in  Ireland  and 

Scotland. 

Red  Cross  ;  or,  Young  America  in  England  and  Wales. 
Dikes  and  Ditches ,  or,  Young  America  in  Holland  and 

Belgium. 
Palace  and  Cottage ;  or,  Young  America  in  .France  and 

Switzerland. 
Down  the  Rhine  ;  or,  Young  America  in  Germany. 

Second  Series. 

Up  the  Baltic ;  or,  Young  America  in  Norway,  Sweden,  and 

Denmark. 

Northern  Lands  ;  or,  Young  America  in  Russia  and  Prussia. 
Cross  and  Crescent ;  or,  Young  America  in   Turkey  and 

Greece. 

Sunny  Shores  ;  or,  Young  America  in  Italy  and  Austria. 
Vine  and  Olive  ;  or,  Young  America  in  Spain  and  Portugal, 
Isles  of  the  Sea ;  or,  Young  America  Homeward  Bound. 


LEE  &  SHEPARD'S  JUVENILE   PUBLICATIONS 

Riverdale  Stories.  Twelve  volumes.  A  New  Edition. 
Profusely  Illustrated  from  new  designs  by  Billings.  In 
neat  box.  Per  vol 

Little  Merchant-  Proud  and  Lazy. 

Young  Voyagers.  Careless  Kate. 

Robinson  Crusoe,  Jr.  Christmas  Gift. 

Dolly  and  I.  The  Picnic  Party. 

Uncle  Ben.  The  Gold  Thimble. 

Birthday  Party.  The  Do-Somethings. 

Riverdale  Story  Books.  Six  volumes,  in  neat  box. 
Cloth.  Per  vol * 

Little  Merchant.  Proud  and  Lazy. 

Young  Voyagers.  Careless  Kate. 

Dolly  and  I.  Robinson  Crusoe,  Jr. 

Flora  Lee  Story  Books.     Six  volumes    in    neat  box. 
/      Cloth.     Per  vol 

Christmas  Gift.  The  Picnic  Party. 

Uncle  Ben.  The  Gold  Thimble. 

Birthday  Party.  The  Do-Somethings. 

Great  Western  Series,  The.  Six  volumes.  Illus- 
trated. Per  vol 1 I  50 

Going  West ;  or,  The  Perils  of  a  Poor  Boy. 
Out  West ;  or,  Roughing  it  on  the  Great  Lakes. 
A  New  Volume  (in  preparation). 

Our  Boys'  and  Girls'  Offering*  Containing  Oliver 
Optic's  popular  Story,  Ocean  Born  ;  or,  The  Cruise  of  the 
Clubs  ;  Stories  of  the  Seas,  Tales  of  Wonder,  Records 
of  Travel,  &c.  Edited  by  Oliver  Optic.  Profusely 
Illustrated.  Covers  printed  in  Colors.  8vo I  50 

Our  Boys' and  Girls'  Souvenir.  Containing  Oliver 
Optic's  Popular  Story,  Going  West ;  or,  The  Perils  of  a 
Poor  Boy  ;  Stories  of  the  Sea,  Tales  of  Wonder,  Records 
of  Travel,  &c.  Edited  by  Oliver  Optic.  With  numer- 
ous full-page  and  letter-press  Engravings.  Covers 

printed  in  Colors.     Svo I  5-: 

4 


LEE  &  SHEPARD'S  JUVENILE   PUBLICATIONS. 

BY    ELIJAH   KELLOGG. 

Each  Set  in  a  neat  Box. 

Elm  Island  Stories.     Complete  in  six  volumes.     i6mo. 

Illustrated.     Per  vol I  2c 

Lion  Ben  of  Elm  Island. 

Charlie  Bell. 

The  Ark  of  Elm  Island. 

The  Boy  Farmers  of  Elm  Island.. 

The  Young  Shipbuilders  of  Elm  Island. 

The  Hardscrabble  of  Elm  Island. 

Pleasant  Cove  Series.    Complete  in  six  volumes.    II- 

lustrated.     Per  vol I  2e 

Arthur  Brown,  the  Young  Captain. 

The  Young  Deliverers. 

The  Cruise  of  the  Casco. 

Child  of  the  Island  Glen. 

John  Godsoe's  Legacy. 

Fisher  Boys  of  Pleasant  Cove. 

Whispering  Pine  Series,  The.    Complete  in  six  vol- 
umes.    Illustrated.     Per  vol I  25 

A  Stout  Heart ;  or,  The  Student  from  over  the  Sea. 

The  Spark  of   Genius ;   or,  The  College  Life  of  James 

Trafton. 
The  Sophomores  of  Radcliffe ;  or,  James  Trafton  and  his 

Bosom  Friends. 

The  Whispering  Pine  ;  or,  The  Graduates  of  Radcliffe. 
Winning  His  Spurs ;  or,  Henry  Morton's  First  Trial. 
The  Turning  of    the  Tide;    or,  Radcliffe   Rich  and  his 

Patients. 


Forest  Glen  Series.    To  be  completed  in  six  volumes. 

Illustrated.     Per  vol I  a  5 

Sowed  by  the  Wind.  Black  Rifle's  Mission. 

Wolf  Run.  Forest  Glen.    (In  press.) 

Brought  to  the  Front. 


LEE  &   SHEPARD'S   JUVENILE   PUBLICATIONS. 

BY    SOPHIE   MAY. 

Little  Prudy's  Flyaway  Series.  By  the  author  of 
"Dotty  Dimple  Stories,"  and  "Little  Prudy  Stories." 
Complete  in  six  volumes.  Illustrated.  Per  vol 73 

Little  Folks  Astray.  Little  Grandmother.         • 

Prudy  Keeping  House.         Little  Grandfather. 
Aunt  Madge's  Story.  Miss  Thistledown. 


Little  Prudy  Stories.  By  Sophie  May.  Complete. 
Six  volumes,  handsomely  illustrated,  in  a  neat  box. 
Per  vol 75 

Little  Prudy. 

Little  Prudy's  Sister  Susy. 
Little  Prudy's  Captain  Horace. 
Little  Prudy's  Cousin  Grace.- 
Little  Prudy's  Story  Book. 
Little  Prudy's  Dotty  Dimple. 

Dotty  Dimple  Stories.  By  Sophie  May,  author  of  Lit- 
tle Prudy.  Complete  in  six  volumes.  Illustrated.  Per 
vol 7S 

Dotty    Dimple    at    her  Dotty  Dimple  at  Play. 

Grandmother's.  Dotty  Dimple  at  School. 

Dotty  Dimple  at  Home.  Dotty  Dimple's  Flyaway. 
Dotty  Dimple  out  West 

The   Qninnebassett   Girls.      iGmo.      Illustrated.     (In 

press.) i  50 

The  Doctor's  Daughter.     i6mo.     Illustrated....?....   I  50 

Our  Helen.     l6mo.     Illustrated.. i  75 

The  Asbury  Twins.     i6mo.     Illustrated I  75 

Flaxie  Frizzle  Stories.    To  be  completed  in  six  volumes. 

Illustrated.    Per  vol 75 

Flaxie  Frizzle. 

Flaxie  Frizzle  and  Doctor  Papa. 

A  New  Volume. 


LEE  &  SHEPARD'S   JUVENILE   PUBLICATIONS. 

BY  J.   T.   TROWBRIDGE. 

His  Own  Master.    i6mo.  Cloth.    Illustrated.  i  oo 

Bound  in  Honor;  or,  Boys  will  be  Boys.    i6mo.    Cloth. 

Illustrated ,    i  Go 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

Alden  Series.    By  Joseph  Alden,  D.D.     4  vols.     Illus- 
trated.    Per  vol 50 

The  Cardinal  Flower.         Henry  Ashton. 

The  Lost  Lamb.  The  Light-hearted  Girl. 

Baby  Ballad  Series.    (In  press.)    Three  volumes.    II- 

lustrated.    4to.     Per  vol i  oo 

Baby  Ballads.     By  Uno. 

Little  Songs.     By  Mrs.  Pollen. 

New  Songs  for  Little  People.     By  Mrs.  Anderson. 

Beckoning  Series*    By  Paul  Cobden.    To  be  completed 

in  six  volumes.     Illustrated.     Per  vol I  25 

Who  will  Win  ?  Good  Luck. 

Going  on  a  Mission.  Take  a  Peep. 

The  Turning  WheeL  (Another  in  preparation.) 

Blue  Jacket  Series.    Six  vols.    I2mo.    Illustrated.   Per 

vol 1.50 

Swiss  Family  Robinson.  Gulliver's  Travels. 

Willis  the  Pilot.  The  Arctic  Crusoe. 

The  Prairie  Crusoe.  The  Young  Crusoe. 

Celesta  Stories,  The.    By  Mrs.  E.  M.  Berry.     i6mo. 

Illustrated.     Per  vol I  oo 

Celesta.  The  Crook  Straightened. 

Crooked  and  Straight. 


LEE  &  SHEPARD'S   JUVENILE   PUBLICATIONS. 

Charley  Roberts  Series.    By  Miss  Louise  M.  Thurs- 

ton.     To  be  completed  in  six  volumes.     Per  vol i  oo 

How  Charlie  Roberts  became  a  Man. 

How  Eva  Roberts  gained  her  Education. 

Home  in  the  West.  • 

Children  of  Amity  Court. 

Crusoe  Library.     An  attractive  series  for  Young  and 

Old.     Six  volumes.     Illustrated.    In  neat  box.    Per  vol.  i  50 

Robinson  Crusoe.  Young  Crusoe. 

Arabian  Nights.  Prairie  Crusoe. 

Arctic  Crusoe.  Willis  the  Pilot 

Dick  and  Daisy  Series.    By  Miss  Adelaide  F.  Sam- 
uels.   Four  volumes.     Illustrated.     Per  vol 50 

Adrift  in  the  World  ;  or,  Dick  and  Daisy's  Early  Days. 
Fighting  the  Battle  ;  or,  Dick  and  Daisy's  City  Life. 
Saved  from  the  Street ;  or,  Dick  and  Daisy's  protege's. 
Grandfather  Milly's  Luck  ;  or,  Dick  and  Daisy's  Reward. 

Dick  Travers  Abroad  Series;    By  Miss  Adelaide  F. 

Samuels.     Four  volumes.     Illustrated.     Per  vol 50 

Little  Cricket ;  or,  Dick  Travers  in  London. 

Palm  Land  ;  or,  Dick  Travers  in  the  Chagos  Islands. 

The  Lost  Tar  ;  or,  Dick  Travers  in  Africa. 

On  the  Wave  ;  or,  Dick  Travers  aboard  the  Happy  Jack. 

The   Turning  of   the  Tide  ;    or,  Radcliffe   Rich  and  his 

Patients. 
Winning  his  Spurs  ;  or,  Henry  Morton's  First  Trial. 


Girlhood  Series,  The.     Comprising  six  volumes.  i2mo. 

Illustrated. I  50 

An  American  Girl  Abroad.     By  Miss  Adeline  Trafton. 

The  Doctor's  Daughter.     By  Sophie  May. 

Sallie   Williams,   The   Mountain  Girl.      By   Mrs.  E.  D. 

Cheney. 

Only  Girls.     By  Virginia  F.  Townsend. 
Lottie  Eames ;  or,  Do  Your  Best,  and  Leave  the  Rest 
lihoda  Thornton's  Girlhood.     By  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Pratt 


LEE  &  SHEPARD'S   JUVENILE   PUBLICATIONS. 

Maidenhood  Series.     121110.     Illustrated. 

Seven  Daughters.  By  Miss  A.  M.  Douglas I  50 

Running  to  Waste  :  The  Story  of  a  Tomboy.  By  Geo. 

M.  Baker I  50 

Our  Helen.  By  Sophie  May I  75 

That  Queer  Girl.  By  Virginia  F.  Townsend I  50 

The  Asbury  Twins.  By  Sophie  May I  75 

Daisy  Travers  ;  or,  The  Girls  of  Hive  Hall.  By  Adelaide 

F.Samuels i  50 

Amateur  Drama  Series.  By  Geo.  M.  Baker.  6  vol- 
umes. Illustrated.  Per  vol.... I  50 

Amateur  Dramas.  The  Drawing-Room  Stage.- 

The  Mimic  Stage.  The  Exhibition  Drama. 

The  Social  Stage.  Handy  Dramas. 

Eminent  Statesmen.  The  Young  American's  Library 
of  Eminent  Statesmen.  Uniform  with  the  Young 
American's  Library  of  Famous  Generals.  Six  volumes, 
handsomely  illustrated,  in  neat  box.  (New  edition.) 
Per  volume I  25 

Benjamin  Franklin.  William  Penn. 

Daniel  Webster.  Henry  Clay. 

Daring  Deeds.  Noble  Deeds. 

Famous  Generals.  The  Young  American's  Library  of 
Famous  Generals.  A  useful  and  attractive  series  of 
books  for  Boys.  Six  volumes,  handsomely  illustrated, 
in  neat  box.  (New  edition.)  Per  vol I  a$ 

General   Washington.  General  Lafayette. 

General  Taylor.  General  Marion. 

General  Jackson.  Napoleon  Bonaparte. 


Springdale  Stories.      By  Mrs.  S.  B.  C.  Samuels.     Six 

volumes.    Illustrated.     Per  volume 75 

Obeying  the  Golden  Rule.  The  Smuggler's  Cave. 

The  Shipwrecked  Girl.  Under  the  Sea. 

Nettie's  Trial.  The  Burning  Frairi 


LEE  &  SHEPARD'S  JUVENILE   PUBLICATIONS. 

Stuinybank  Stories.      Twelve   volumes.      Compiled   by 
Rev.  Asa  Bullard,  editor  of  the  "Well-Spring."     Pro-    • 
fusely   Illustrated.     321110.     Bound  in  high  colors,  and 
put  in  a  neat  box.     Per  volume 25 

Uncle  Henry's  Stories.  Aunt  Lizzie's  Stories. 

Dog  Stories.  Mother's  Stories. 

Stories  for  Alice.  Grandpa's  Stories. 

My  Teacher's  Gem.  The  Good  Scholar. 

The  Scholar's  Welcome.  The  Lighthouse. 

Going  to  School.  Reward  of  Merit 

Sunnyhank  Stories.  Six  volumes.  Compiled  by  Rev. 
Asa  Bullard.  Profusely  Illustrated.  321110.  Bound  in 
high  colors,  and  put  up  in  a  neat  box.  Per  volume 25 

Uncle  Henry's  Stories.  Aunt  Lizzie's  Stories. 

Dog  Stories.  Mother's  Stories. 

Stories  for  Alice.  Grandpa's  Stories. 

Shady  Dell  Stories.  Six  volumes.  Compiled  by  Rev.  Asa 
Bullard,  editor  of  the  "  Well-Spring."  Profusely  Illus- 
trated. 32010.  Bound  in  high  colors,  and  put  up  in  a 
neat  box  (to  match  the  Sunnybank  Stories).  Per  volume  25 

My  Teacher's  Gem.  The  Good  Scholar. 

The  Scholar's  Welcome.  The  Lighthouse. 

Going  to  School.  Reward  of  Merit 

Tone  Masters,  The.  A  Musical  Series  for  the  Young. 
By  the  author  of  "  The  Soprano,"  &c.  i6mo.  Illus- 
trated. Per  volume I  25 

Mozart  and  Mendelssohn.  Handel  and  Haydn. 

Bach  and  Beethoven. 

Twilight  Stories.     By   Mrs.   Follen.     Twelve   volumes. 

4to.    Illustrated.     Per  volume 50 

Travellers'  Stories.  The  Talkative  Wig. 

True  Stories  about  Dogs.  What  Animals  do  and  say 

Made-Up  Stories.  Two  Festivals. 

Peddler  of  Dust  Sticks.  Conscience. 

When  I  was  a  Girl.  Piccolissima. 

Who*  speaks  Next  ?  Little  Songs. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  LOS  ANGELES 

THE  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below 


475494    1 


P27 
A2181 


• 

<KM 


\\ 


